USS Swordfish- St. Paul, MN
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member rosebud55112
N 44° 58.772 W 093° 08.695
15T E 488574 N 4980686
A memorial in Como Park to the men of the USS Swordfish-SS193, which was lost while on patrol in the Pacific Ocean in January 1945.
Waymark Code: WMJBDB
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 10/24/2013
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member lenron
Views: 2

This memorial, consisting of a torpedo atop a brick monument, is dedicated to the 88 men aboard the USS Swordfish, SS193, which is believed to have been sunk either by mine or depth charge off the coast of Okinawa on January 12, 1945. She was the first US Submarine to sink a Japanese ship during WWII, and was awarded eight battle stars for her service. She was instrumental in evacuating the President of the Philippines and his family from Luzon. The plaque on the North side of the monument reads:
THE U.S SUBMARINE VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II MINNESOTA VIKINGS SQUADRON
PROUDLY DEDICATE THIS MEMORIAL TO THE VALIANT MEN OF THE U.S.S. SWORDFISH SS193
SUNK BY ENEMY ACTION ON HER 13TH WAR PATROL ON JANUARY 12, 1945
AFTER SINKING 12 ENEMY SHIPS FOR A TOTAL OF 47,926 TONS
COMMANDER K.E. MONTROSS, COMMANDING OFFICER Underneath that it lists in alphabetical order the names of 88 men listed as crew of the Swordfish, although Wikipedia shows her as having a complement of 5 officers and 54 enlisted submariners. The south face of the monument shows a roll of 52 US Submarines lost during World War II.
Property Permission: Public

Access instructions: Located in Como Park, in St. Paul Minnesota, this memorial is East of Lexington Parkway and North of W Como Blvd

Website for Waymark: [Web Link]

Commemoration: The Men of the USS Swordfish, sunk off the coast of Okinawa by mine or depth charge, in January 1945

Date of Dedication: Not listed

Access times: Not listed

Location of waymark: Not listed

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