Location of Sayre Seaman's Family Still Unknown
Lisa R Howeler
Sayre Evening Times
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Sayre, Pennsylvania (US):
If members of John Leslie Williams' family still exist, Nancy Kenney of Traverse City, Wisconsin wants to invite them to celebrate the solving of a 60-year-old mystery.If he had lived Williams would be 79 years old today.
But, as a crew member of the USS Lagarto, John Williams didn't live past the age of 19. He, along with 86 other seamen died in the submarine on May 4, 1945, at the hands of the enemy, according to the United States Navy.For 60 years the Navy and the seamens' families alike were at a loss as to what had exactly happened to the boat. Kenney is among those who wondered and pondered the disappearance of the Lagarto.
She wondered because her father had been on the submarine. She was two when her father (SM1 William T. Mabin) disappeared and she never had the chance to get to know him. She at least wanted to know what happened to him.Though the United States Navy won't officially confirm it, camera footage from a British dive team is enough for family members to be certain the wreckage of the Lagarto has been found off the coast of Thailand, said Kenney this week speaking from her home in Wisconsin.
Kenney hopes the Navy will eventually send an expert to the site to confirm that the boat discovered this spring belongs to the United States.
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See also:
NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
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The Lagarto was the only submarine reported missing in that area. And it is in the exact area another United States boat said it lost contact with it, said Kenney.“If by some strange, horrible, quirk of fate they determine it isn't the Lagarto, then my question is, what the heck is it? We (the families) all know it is (the Lagarto).”
Kenney and Karen Duvalle of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum have the names of the seamen who were on the ship and have begun to contact family members still living to tell them of the discovery. The Wisconsin Museum has adopted the Lagarto.
Twenty-nine families of the 86 crew members have been found, but now the museum and other veteran's organizations hope to notify the other families about where their relative rests.A memorial service in honor of the seamen will be held in May at the museum.John L. Williams is on the list of crew members and if family members can be found they will be notified as soon as possible, said Kenney.
Oct 25, 2005
Lisa R HowelerSayre Evening Times
________________
Sayre, Pennsylvania (US):
If members of John Leslie Williams' family still exist, Nancy Kenney of Traverse City, Wisconsin wants to invite them to celebrate the solving of a 60-year-old mystery.If he had lived Williams would be 79 years old today.
But, as a crew member of the USS Lagarto, John Williams didn't live past the age of 19. He, along with 86 other seamen died in the submarine on May 4, 1945, at the hands of the enemy, according to the United States Navy.For 60 years the Navy and the seamens' families alike were at a loss as to what had exactly happened to the boat. Kenney is among those who wondered and pondered the disappearance of the Lagarto.
She wondered because her father had been on the submarine. She was two when her father (SM1 William T. Mabin) disappeared and she never had the chance to get to know him. She at least wanted to know what happened to him.Though the United States Navy won't officially confirm it, camera footage from a British dive team is enough for family members to be certain the wreckage of the Lagarto has been found off the coast of Thailand, said Kenney this week speaking from her home in Wisconsin.Kenney hopes the Navy will eventually send an expert to the site to confirm that the boat discovered this spring belongs to the United States.
________________________________
See also:
NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
________________________________
The Lagarto was the only submarine reported missing in that area. And it is in the exact area another United States boat said it lost contact with it, said Kenney.“If by some strange, horrible, quirk of fate they determine it isn't the Lagarto, then my question is, what the heck is it? We (the families) all know it is (the Lagarto).”
Kenney and Karen Duvalle of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum have the names of the seamen who were on the ship and have begun to contact family members still living to tell them of the discovery. The Wisconsin Museum has adopted the Lagarto.
Twenty-nine families of the 86 crew members have been found, but now the museum and other veteran's organizations hope to notify the other families about where their relative rests.A memorial service in honor of the seamen will be held in May at the museum.John L. Williams is on the list of crew members and if family members can be found they will be notified as soon as possible, said Kenney.
Oct 25, 2005
