| RATON SS-270 SHIPMATES STORIES AND/OR COMMENTS |
| March 1, 1999 Dear Mr. Decker, Thank you so much for the cap, patches, and personnel list from the Raton. Somewhere I have one of the original cards with the Raton logo on it. It was designed by Disney wasn't it? I had fixed up a scrapbook for my Dad of his Navy memorabilia but I haven't come accross it yet. I think his wife may have it, I am requesting its return. So far I've only come across these few items. I know he served from 1941 to 1947? (? I'm not sure on the ending year), and then again from 1956 to 1960. He wanted to make a career of it but family situations prohibited this. I don't know anything about the photo except that my father, George Taylor, is the one on the right and it was taken during his second hitch, I don't know the location. If you have any more information, about this photo, please let me know. I thought you might get a kick out of the "1000th Dive" card and the earlier "Beer Ration" card. I don't remember him ever menthioning the Orion but evidently he did serve on it. This is all of the Polaris magazines I have, unfortunately there are some missing which may have been recycled. I did tell his wife that if she does come accross any to let me know and I will mail them. Thanks again and good luck to your future endeavors with the Subvets. You guys were the original Navy Elite, quite a unique and brave group of men. You certainly have the respect of the Taylor family. Sincerely, Della Taylor |
| LETTER From Della Taylor, Daughter of George B. Taylor Jr. EM1(SS) Deceased 2/97 |
| This newspaper article appeared in the Commercial Appeal, a daily newspaper in Memphis, TN in the early 1950s. It was provided by Randle Dewees, SN(SS), 1942-1946, who served on the Raton during WWII. |
| A Salute To Submariners Now the saga of the subs can be sung. A 39-ship submarine force, often referred to as "America's thin gray line of defense," was the first segment of naval power to maintain offensive operations against the Japanese from December 7th, (date of the Pearl Harbor disaster) 1941, to the Battle of Midway. Lifting the cloak of secrecy that previously surrounded the submarines' activities, the united States Navy has announced that a total underseas force of 169 subs and 55,000 men sank 201 Japanese Navy ships and 1,113 merchant vessels. Credited with sinking two thirds of all Japanese merchant shipping, the submarine reccord was hailed as greater than all other forces, surface or air, Army-Navy combined, according to Admiral Ernest King, then Chief of Naval Operations, in his offical war report. This tremendous toll was not effected without losses to America's own sub fleet, however. Fifty-two American undersea craft were lost during the war, 48 of which were attributed either directly or indirectly to enemy action. Although these losses represent a concurrent loss of 374 officers and 3,131 enlisted men, they appear relatively low when compared with those sustained by the enemy, and particularly when contrasted with total Axis sub losses. Despite highly successful "wolf pack" tactics, 781 U boats were destroyed by the Allied navies. Meanwhile the Japanese lost 130 underseas craft, while the nearly inactive Italian Fleet suffered 85 losses in its undersea arm. Not only was the sub a commerce raider, she proved her worth in many other military ways. These uses included mine laying, beach reconnaissance, landing United States Marine raiders, contacting guerilla forces, securing information of enemy forces afloat. Besides being proud of their equipment and war record, submariners are also justly proud of each other. This service pride draws from the fact that they volunteered for hazardous duty. Also it stems from the fact that such a small force has contributed so much. The sumariner was a man who belonged to the "silent service." |
 |