ww1collector Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share #26 Posted December 12, 2012 Welch Service record page 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share #27 Posted December 12, 2012 Boston Harbor memorial service pamphlet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share #28 Posted December 12, 2012 Purple Heart award letter. I would guess sent with the PH Certificate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share #29 Posted December 12, 2012 Welches Harvard photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share #30 Posted December 12, 2012 Welch Memorial photo-sorry for the reflection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share #31 Posted December 12, 2012 Sub Div 11 letter to senior Welch re the Snook's patrol's. Page 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share #32 Posted December 12, 2012 Sub Div 11 letter to senior Welch re the Snook's patrol's. Page 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share #33 Posted December 12, 2012 Sub Div 11 letter to senior Welch re the Snook's patrol's. Page 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share #34 Posted December 12, 2012 That's it for now. I have shown about 5% of all the paperwork. Also included in the group are a few dozen condolence letters to the Welch's in original envelopes. One such letter was sent from Ethel Kennedy, but was sold to another collector before I got involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh B. Posted December 12, 2012 Share #35 Posted December 12, 2012 Amazing group. I have recent pictures of the Boston war memorial. I used to live within walking distance and visited the park often. I'd offer to go take a picture of his name, but moved not terribly long ago. Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted December 15, 2012 Author Share #36 Posted December 15, 2012 Here is the info I have found on Andrew Welch's career: This is a massive historic group of material that had been saved by the family of LT (JG) Andrew Welch. The centerpiece of the group is Andrew's posthumous officially engraved Type 1 Navy Purple Heart. Andrew Wech, Jr. was born March 14, 1921. He went to the Roxbury Latin School and then to Harvard, where he teceived a BA Degree. While at Harvard, he enlisted in the US Naval Reserve on March 26, 1942. On October 22, 1943, he was appointed as Ensign, US Naval Reserve, and was assigned to Submarine Squadron THREE, where he reported November 13. On March 16, 1944, he was detached and sent to the New London Sub Base where he reported on April 1. On July 1, 1944, he was detached from the Sub Base and reassigned to the Pacific Submarine Fleet, and he reported for duty July 19, 1944 to Submarine Division FORTY-FOUR. At that time, he reported aboard the USS Salmon, S-182. Andrew's service on the Salmon is worth reporting as shown below. On December 4, 1944 he reported aboard the USS Snook. On February 1, 1945, he was appointed LT (JG). He was on an uneventful 8th patrol from December 25, 1944 to February 17, 1945. On April 8, 1945, Snook left for her final patrol. The Snook failed to return from her 9th patrol in the South China Sea. Her sinking was estimated to occur between May 5 and May 8, 1945. The Snook had an illustrious career sinking 22 enemy ships, about 123,000 tons of enemy shipping on 8 patrols. She was sunk on her ninth patrol. Large amounts of information about the Snook can be found on the internet, so that will not be repeated here. Andrew's service on the Salmon's 11th patrol: Salmon's eleventh and last war patrol was conducted in company with submarines Trigger (SS-237) and Sterlet (SS-392) as a coordinated attack group in the Ryukyu Islands. This patrol began on 24 September. On 30 October, Salmon attacked a large tanker that had been previously damaged by Trigger. This tanker was protected by four antisubmarine patrol vessels which were cruising back and forth around the stricken ship. Salmon fired four torpedoes and made two good hits, but was forced to dive deep under a severe depth charge attack by escort CD-29. She leveled off at 300 feet (91 m) but was soon forced to nearly 500 feet (150 m) due to damage and additional pounding of the depth charges. Unable to control leaking and maintain depth level, she battle surfaced to fight for survival on the surface. Escorts CD-22 (the killer of USS Harder) and CD-33 (who would later help sink the USS Trigger on March 28, 1945) saw her surface and began to close. Salmon turned away to give her crew a few precious minutes to correct a bad list and to repair some of the damage. The vessels began to close, but Salmon showed an aggressive stance, turned on the attackers and passing within 50 yards down the side of CD-22, raked her with 20 mm gunfire and her deck gun. CD-22 suffered 4 killed and 24 wounded and was unable to reply because of the closeness of Salmon and her higher freeboard. Salmon began sending out plain language directions for all other subs in the vicinity to attack, giving the position of the action. This probably further discouraged the enemy who, fearing other submarines in the area, began milling around pinging on sound gear. Salmon took advantage of a rain squall and slipped away. Other than the damage caused by depth charges, Salmon suffered only a few small caliber hits from the enemy vessels. Escorted by Sterlet, Trigger, and Silversides (SS-236), she made it to Saipan. She was given one-third credit for the 10,500-ton tanker, Jinei Maru which was eventually sunk by a torpedo from Sterlet. On 3 November, she moored alongside submarine tender Fulton (AS-11), in Tanapag Harbor, Saipan. It was after this patrol that LT(JG) Welch reported to the USS Snook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted December 15, 2012 Author Share #37 Posted December 15, 2012 PS-here is more info about what is included in the group. In addition, the group contains many items of paperwork including 3 diaries, photos, certificates, official correspondence especially between Andrew Welch Sr. and the Navy Dept. Also, Andrew's prayer book, newspaper clippings about his loss, internet research, family photo album, Memorial album compiled by the family, and many, many condolence letters to the family from friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted December 15, 2012 Share #38 Posted December 15, 2012 This is the way I like to see groups....... " kept together" . Unfortunately the trend is to split them up. Fantastic group Dave. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torch03 Posted December 16, 2012 Share #39 Posted December 16, 2012 Amazing group! Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Brannan Posted December 16, 2012 Share #40 Posted December 16, 2012 A wonderful group and a lasting tribute to a man who made the supreme sacrifice. May we never forget what they did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share #41 Posted February 9, 2015 Thought I would put his back to the top-Definitely my best sub group. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Welch Posted March 28, 2015 Share #42 Posted March 28, 2015 A wonderful group and a lasting tribute to a man who made the supreme sacrifice. May we never forget what they did. Amen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raidercollector Posted March 28, 2015 Share #43 Posted March 28, 2015 Dave,very nice research, What a great group. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary B Posted January 21, 2021 Share #44 Posted January 21, 2021 Stumbled on this post and wanted to add my comments to the others. Wonderful historic group. I recently acquired the SS/posthumous PH to the last commanding officer of the Snook, CDR Walling. LT (JG) Welch and CDR Walling would have known each other well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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