Activity

@katja-r

Ok, here’s the info on my grandad. (Harley Vance Combs)

1. What theater? Pacific.
2. What years? He served on the USS Cobia from May 6, 1944-May 6, 1945 in the area of the Bonin Islands, Muko Jima, Chichi Jima, and Iwo Jima, also some off the coast of Japan. Then he was transferred over to the USS Angler, which he served on from June 1,1945 until V-J day, August 15th, when he and the crew heard the news of the Japanese surrender in the barracks at Midway Island. They made it back to New Orleans on September 20th. After the war, he was in the inactive reserve until 1955, when he returned to active duty for two years.
3. His rank: RM1 (radioman first class) SS USNR When he first joined, he had the post of lookout. The Cobia already had enough radio men. Eventually, one of the radio men switched to lookout and my granddad was able to take his job. To qualify as a submariner and receive the dolphin patch, you had to memorize every operating system of the boat. He had to know how to operate every valve and fixture in every compartment, in the dark if necessary. After three months on the submarine, he qualified.
4. His branch: the Navy
5. Was he drafted or did he enlist? He graduated high school in 1942 and enlisted in the Navy in 1943.
6. He served in the Pacific.
7. He was aboard submarines and patrolled all throughout the Pacific.
8. Did he see combat? Yes, while on board the submarines, they sunk numerous ships (I’m not sure of the exact number) and at one point they picked up a Japanese prisoner from the water.
9. Combat stories? Were forced to dive on numerous occasions by Japanese bombers, and survived a lot of depth charges.
On one occasion, they tried to take aboard some Japanese that were in the water. All of them but one refused (exhibiting the Bushido mentality –better to die than surrender). The one man they took aboard knew no English, but was friendly and peaceable after his initial fright.
One day, while dumping the trash, my granddad had an adventure. The water was rough, and while carrying the bag, the boat took a heavy roll to port. The bag dropped into the sea, and my granddad was thrown against the life line. The officer of the deck yelled “clear the bridge!”. My granddad staggered back to the door to find it closed. The movement of the sub had slammed it shut and the latch had fallen into place. He had a very narrow escape. The officer of the deck was about to close the other hatch if my granddad didn’t show up. They didn’t wait around.
10. Living conditions: (a big part of being aboard a sub) crowded, hot, and everyone smoked. The air would get very stale and at some points there wasn’t even enough oxygen to light a match!
11. How was communication? I’m not sure, he didn’t mention much in his journal about contacting home.
Also, in his journal he does mention the death of Ralph Huston. I don’t think he knew him very well. He said it was the only fatality aboard the Cobia.

Well, I hope that was helpful! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. 🙂