Heroic WW II Submarine Memories--Myrtle Beach Honor Flight.m4v

Seven years before W. H. (Bill) Murray of Pawleys Islands went on duty in the U.S.S. Plunger SS 179, the vessel was launched in 1937 from the Portsmouth NH Navy Yard.  When she was decommissioned in 1945, she received 14 battle stars for World War II service.     More than 65 years later, the submarine's Submarine Service (SS) Chief Murray vividly recalls how this submarine got these stars.  On one occasion, the vessel and its crew of more than 300 limped into port for repair after having much of its deck blown off explosive depth charges forced upon her by the enemy in 1944, as she patrolled off the Japanese main islands.  The Plunger sank Toyo Maru No. 5, Toyo Maru No. 8 Kimishima Maru in November.  Returning to Pearl Harbor in March, the 1,997-foot long Plunger departed again in May to patrol the Bonin Islands.  In July, she patrolled in and around Truk.     SS Chief Murray is going to see the National World War II Memorial in Washington DC in an inaugural flight from Myrtle Beach International Airport, which takes off Wednesday, Nov. 10, just before Veteran's Day, Thursday, Nov. 11. All 149 seats of the Honor Flight (HF) of South Carolina Grand Strand/Myrtle Beach Chapter are filled for the Nov. 10 takeoff.  Flight Coordinators Bert and GG Cassels said there is a waiting list for veterans and one for accompanying guardians, and the organization has raised more than $60,000.  "God has truly blessed HF," the flight coordinators said. " There is no cost for the veterans for this special charter flight."     There have been about 17,000 showings or hits on a three-minute mini-documentary of another Honor Flight passenger, Howard Wollman of Murrells who served on PT Boat 110, sister to J. K. Kennedy's PT Boat 109.  The video, 'WW II Hero Going on Myrtle Beach Honor Flight Nov. 10,' is on YouTube at CoastalDigital (Lloyd Mackall) or on the Times websites, www.gtowntimes.com or www.waccamawtimes.com 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXxqOVUSc08
Wollman also is featured in another video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UobwRUHluUY

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• 2010
• World War II Heroes
• National WW II Memorial
• Washington
• DC
• Submarine SS-179
• Serving Country
• Honor
• Greatest Generation

[CoastalDigital]

Dedicated to Heroic WW II Submarine Plunger SS 179 and its crew for honorable service to protect our nation's freedom and that of the world.