WWII Equator crossing sub skipper USS CROAKER

[Bob Hudson]

I don't think I knew that crossing the line ceremonies were held during WWII.

 

This one is for the skipper of the USS Croaker (SS-246) and is dated March 1945 in "French Indo China."

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

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[Dave]

That's really cool! These did happen...the most common certificates you'll find are the ones from the troop transports (obviously) and the larger warships. As far as I can remember, this is the first one I've seen to a submariner - and the CO of the ship, to boot!

[VenitHora]

​Very cool! Here is some info on Wikipedia that matches with the certificate.

 

"Croaker's third war patrol, in the Luzon Straits and South China Sea from 13 December 1944 to 12 February 1945, found her making no contacts with enemy shipping, but providing essential lifeguard service during strikes on Luzon preparatory to the invasion landings in Lingayen Gulf. She refitted at Fremantle, Australia, and on 12 March sailed for a patrol off the coast of Indo-China twice interrupted by the need to return to Australia for repairs."

[Bob Hudson]

He received a Silver Star while CO of the Croaker: I saw the carbon copy of the citation and regret I didn't photograph it.

 

Besides the Neptune certificate, there's some photos from 1945, and one from much later on when he's with Jed Clampett:

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

The Croaker:

 

[Bob Hudson]

This is the first time I've seen how the old sheepskin is impacted by water damage. His Naval Academy diploma and his appointment to Lieutenant each have a damaged edge and just tonight I realized it was not paper: it is vellum and it apparently gets puffy when wet, but otherwise is in sound condition for a 1936 diploma.

 

 

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

His Lt. appointment also with edge damage:

 

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

Found some more photos in the box, including a couple of his earlier assigments to the Chicago and the R-11

 

 

 

 

This is the Croaker back in fhe USA after the end of WWII

 

[Bob Hudson]

Some more certificates

 

 

Captain after 18 years active duty

 

[sundance]

The USS Croaker is an exhibit at the Buffalo Naval Museum. I was on it years back when my son's visited it as scouts.

[carbinekid]

Old topic, but sad I only just found it. I have an M1 carbine that seems to have come from the Croaker and belonged to her XO, LTCD William R. Lennox. That name pop in any of the documents that you have??