My family has a rich military history.Oompa served in Germany with Elvis! Grandpa L. served in WW II in the European theater. My Dad served on the USS Dixie, a destroyer tender.
My Grandpa P. stands out because until his death his passion, his best friends, and his hobbies all revolved around his experience in the Navy.
He served as radioman on SS-12, The USS Peto, a Gato-class diesel submarine, in the Pacific theater during WW II.
Until he got too sick, he never missed a submarine vet's convention.
He took me on a tour of the USS Pampanito a few years before he took ill. It's a similar class to the Gato. His cot (shared in shifts with two other submariners) was about 24 inches by five feet. His office was about the size of a typical airline lavatory.
The Peto made its mark on history by rescuing dozens of downed airmen from the Pacific. The flag below gives a good idea of just how effective the Peto was.
My grandpa to this day makes me proud. I wish my Grandpa L. had shared more stories with me so I could relate his experiences too. Next time I am with Oompa I willl ask what he can remember Grandpa L. telling him.
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