USN Submarine Grouping...Medals & Pins etc..

[mkgarms]

Steve you wrote "He was a Submariner who participated on 6 war patrols"

 

I did a search on the USS-388 Pipefish and it stated 6 war patrols.

 

Am I right on this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pipefish_(SS-388)

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Following training off the East Coast, Pipefish proceeded via the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived on 3 May 1944.

 

On her first war patrol - 24 May-16 July - Pipefish cruised west of the Mariana Islands, as a rescue submarine for pre-invasion carrier strikes on Saipan, saving one pilot on 12 June. She also cruised in the Surigao Straits to block Japanese escape from the Battle of the Philippine Sea. She moored at Majuro on 16 July.

 

On her second war patrol - 6 August-27 September - she patrolled off the southeastern coast of Honshū, Japan. Pipefish sank Hakutetsu Maru Number Seven on 12 September. While evading escorts after that attack, she struck bottom three times. She returned to Pearl Harbor on 27 September.

 

On her third war patrol - 28 October 1944-6 January 1945, Pipefish roamed southwest of Taiwan and off the east coast of Hainan Island, China, operating with Pampanito, Sea Cat, and Searaven. On 30 November Pipefish was damaged from an air attack but remained on patrol in the South China Sea.[5] Attacking a convoy, Pipefish sank Coastal Defense Vessel Number 64 on 3 December. She arrived at Majuro on 6 January.

 

On her fourth war patrol - 31 January to 26 March - Pipefish provided rescue capability for downed aviators in the Nansei Shoto area.

 

During her fifth war patrol - 28 April to 16 June - she performed lifeguard duty for B-29 Superfortress aviators off Honshū, and in the Nanpō Islands area. Pipefish saved eight aviators on 26 May, 29 May, and 10 June. She moored at Midway Island on 16 June.

 

Her sixth war patrol - 15 July-28 August - called for lifeguard duty in the Nanpō Islands area and off the east coast of Kyūshū. On patrol she destroyed eight naval mines. Following termination of hostilities with Japan she arrived at Pearl Harbor on 28 August, and then proceeded to the West Coast.

 

Pipefish decommissioned on 19 March 1946, and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was redesignated AGSS-388 on 1 December 1962. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 March 1967 and sold on 20 January 1969.

[ASMIC2971]

It would appear that as some point this group was split up.  A few years back I purchased this lot at a small show in Iowa.  Without a doubt reading through the previous posts that it is the exact set of medals and pins as the combat patrol badge has the same engraving on the back.  When I purchased it there was no American Legion hat or any of those pins.  It came off the table of a guy that mostly dealt in German and had no idea on the value of the group, nor did I.  I shot him an offer as we were both have a slow show and to my surprise he came back over and said its yours plus $5 for the case.

 

I did some early research when I first got it, then tucked it away.  Pulled it out to see if I could find any other information but nothing substantial compared to what I found before.  I firmly believe that the medal set is to LCDR Marion Lefave Piper based on the obit a friend found.  I believe the Obit is the key piece to the puzzle as it fills in some details on his early service.  The only confusing thing to me is the DOW on 7 December 1941?

 

Today I was able to locate his name in the Executive Nominations received during the 87th Congress, 1st Session (1961-1963).  In Volume 103 Part II on page 695 there is a Piper, Marion L Lieutenant Junior Grade. 

 

[manayunkman]

Too bad all the pictures are gone

[ASMIC2971]

18 minutes ago, manayunkman said:

Too bad all the pictures are gone

My thoughts as well.