After getting the needed information, I started looking at the individual memorials to all of the submarines lost during World War II. I knew my uncle had fought in the war, but that was in North Africa, so I knew I wasn't going to find any relatives on any of these memorials, but I did find two that had a Myers on board, so that's why I chose to have my selfie taken with the U.S.S. Trout. Lt. Lewis Edwin Myers, Jr. was aboard the U.S.S. Trout on its final mission.
I discovered another connection to this particular submarine while doing my research for this blog entry. The last time the U.S.S. Trout was seen was during a refueling stop on February 16, 1944 at Midway Island. 14 years later in 1958, I was born on that date.
I've actually been to this memorial on a previous visit, but it's still a sobering experience, at least to me, when I encounter any kind of memorials like this. They tend to put wars into a human perspective. I was fortunate enough that I never had to make the decision to fight in a war. I'm sure some of the men on this submarine didn't even have that decision since the draft had been instituted, but they went into battle anyway, knowing it could be their last. All gave some and some gave all. Unfortunately, these men gave all so that we can live in freedom today.
