USS Escolar SS-294 Purple Heart

[USMCR79]

Acquired this yesterday - Posthumous Purple Heart grouping to Stewards Mate 2nd Class James A. Raley from Charlotte NC - Raley was an 18 year old African-American when he enlisted on May 8, 1944 in Raleigh NC, He reported to the USS Escolar on August 29, 1944.

 

The Escolar was on its First War Patrol when it was sunk on October 17, 1944. Some accounts attribute the sinking to colliding with a mine, other accounts indicate that it may have been depth charged and sunk by the Japanese Navy.

 

Escolar was lost with all hands.

 

Rest in Peace to another member of the "Silent Service" on Eternal Patrol.

 

Bill

[huntssurplus]

RIP, good job keeping his memory alive. Thanks for sharing.

 

Hunt

[Dave]

RIP Sailor!

Bill - can you get a better photo of the engraving? Looks like it wasn't blackened?

[mes]

Rip Sm2 Raley Great find Kia Sub stuff is so hard to find.

Mark

[USMCR79]

RIP Sailor!

 

Bill - can you get a better photo of the engraving? Looks like it wasn't blackened?

I had to check it with a loop - I'm guessing it was issued in late 1945 when the crew was declared dead - I'm not sure if it was Al Gleim or Stan Siermans who mentioned that at the end of the war the Navy employed a lot of inexperienced engravers to help clear the backlog of awards - I think this was one of them.

 

My camera won't let me get a better shot

 

R/Bill

[USMCR79]

Image Source:

The Charlotte Observer 12-20-1945

Rank:

Stewards Mate Second Class

Last Name:

Raley

First Name:

James

Middle Name:

Arthur

Birth Date:

1/15/1926