My best friend, LT. Jim Hazelwood, Master Diver, SEAL, sent me the book BLOW ALL BALLAST by Nat. A. Barrows; Dodd, Mead & Co. NY 1940 . Thank you very much Jim. Great book. All of the pictures and other graphics and important information in that book are included here.
Jim wrote me: " This book gives a great account of Salvage of USS Squalus SS-192. Includes the Deep Sea Divers names, and the Squalus survivors names. Only one diver (then a GM2) , John Malcomb "Punchy" Porter failed to be commissioned during their career. John was at one time the all Navy boxing heavyweight. At the Bikini atoll in 1946, "Punchy" was a GMC Master Diver aboard the USS Widgeon ASR-1. The Widgeon salvaged the USS Skipjack SS-184 that was sunk by the "Baxer Day", a bomb blast."
"Doc" Riojas comments:
Jim, thank you for that bit of Naval Diving history. I do not recall a diving salvage operation as succesfull as this one. I think the Russians had a chance to outdo the Squalus salvage but for resons not explained, they left their men to die at the bottom of the North Sea. Jim you are one of my heroes. You have seen the "white elephant," been there and done that all over the world. I respect you, salute you and wish you the very best in your life. Tu Amigo, Erasmo "Doc" Riojas(SEAL) ; DSDS, class 4/55 . UDT Class-19 (Honorary.)
Decorations for
"Men of Honor" Medal of Honor William Badders MMC Orson L. Crandall BMC James Harper McDonald SFC John Mihalowski TM1 Capt. Richard S. Edwards Navy Cross. R.Adm. Cyrus W.Cole Distinguished Service Medal
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Here is a LINK to "Scumbags" that claim many forms of STOLEN VALOR! If you know of any "phonies" claiming to have earned the MOH, tell the F.B.I.
Related LINKS |
The History of the USS Squalus |
The Sinking & Rescue of the USS Squalus |
USS Squalus, sinking, rescue, surviors |
The USS Sculpin (SS-191) sister ship |
Swede Momsen : The Submarine Rescue Bell |
The list of the Dead |
Subs Lost |
The USS Penacook (1898-1947, later YT-6 & YTM-6) |
The USS Falcon ASR-2 |
The USS Wandank |
USS Sailfish emerges from the remains of Squalus |
Barrows; Nathaniel A. of the Chicago Daily News |