World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
James William Ackley
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Nashua, New Hampshire
Honored By
U.S. Submarine Veteran
He was killed with the loss of 81 Officers and men on board USS ROBALO (SS-273) on 26 July 1944 off the east coast of Balabac Island 07° 53'N, 117° 11'E. Decorations: Purple Heart. ROBALO under Commander M. M. Kimmel, departed Fremantle on 22 June 1944 to conduct her third war patrol in the South China Sea in the vicinity of the Natuna Islands. After traversing Makassar and Balabac Straits, she was to arrive on station about 6 July, and stay there until dark on 2 August 1944. On the night of 26 July, ROBALO hit an enemy mine in the vicinity of the after battery and sank. Some number of crewmen managed to swim to shore, but four were soon captured by the Japanese. They did not survive the war.