WADE, Seaman 1/C Arthur Menchel, WWII

WADE, HAMLIN, OGORMAN, BALEK, CHRISTENSEN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/11/2013 at 21:54:40

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
October 02, 1943, Page 11

WHEREABOUTS

Arthur M. WADE, son of Mrs. Jay HAMLIN, Thompson, and husband of Marcella WADE, 211 1st street southwest, has been named honor man of his company upon completion of recruit training at Camp Waldron, Farragut, Idaho. After a 15-day leave he hopes to qualify for cooks and bakers school and be assigned to duty as a meat cutter at the conclusion of the course. Before entering the service, WADE was employed as a butcher for the Jacob E. Decker and Son plant.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Tuesday, December 07, 1943, Page 8

Death of Pfc. Voss Confirmed by Letter

Word has been received by Mrs. Arthur WADE, 211 1st S. W., that her husband, Arthur WADE, seaman 2nd class, who took his boot training at Farragut, Idaho, is now attending cook and baker's school at Ames. Before entering the service Seaman WADE was employed at Decker's.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
August 30, 1945, Page 11

MASON CITY NAVY MAN LISTED AMONG MISSING on SUBMARINE

Arthur M. Wade Was on USS Lagarto Reported Overdue

Arthur M. WADE, whose wife lives at 211 1st S. W., is among those listed by the war department as missing on the submarine USS Lagarto, reported overdue from patrol operations, according to a message received here.

The USS Lagarto, according to newspaper stories had a crew of 90 men. Seaman WADE was ship's cook for the crew. A letter received by Mrs. WADE recently from the navy department states that it was sill impossible to give any further information concerning the personnel of the submarine.

WADE is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay HAMLIN of Thompson. He was employed at Decker's at the time of entering the service 2 years ago this month. He took his boot training at Farragut, Idaho, and later attended submarine school at New London, Conn. After that he was graduated from cook's and baker's school at Ames, with final training at Manitowoc, Wis., before going overseas last October.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
June 04, 1946, Page 7

A. M. WADE PRESUMED to HAVE LOST LIFE in SUBMARINE ACTION

Was on USS Lagarto Last Heard From at Subic Bay; Philippines

Arthur M. WADE, S 1/c, who was reported missing on a submarine in June, 1945, has been presumed to have lost his life in action at about that time, according to word received from the navy department by his wife, 211 1st S. W.

The official date of WADE'S death has been set as May 25, 1946. The submarine USS Lagarto on which he was serving was last heard from when it left Subic Bay, Philippines, to go to Fremantic, Australia. It failed to arrive at its destination.

WADE, who had been overseas since Oct., 1944, was awarded the submarine combat insignia in absentia for services near French Indo China. It bears 3 battle stars and according to the citation was given for "exemplary devotion to duty which contributed greatly to the success of this ship against the enemy."

Arthur WADE, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay HAMLIN of Thompson, was born at Arlington in 1907. He attended the schools there and later the Mason City schools. He was a member of the Methodist church, having been baptized in the Methodist church at McGregor. He was employed at Decker's at the time of entering the service in July, 1943.

Besides his wife and parents he is survived by 3 sisters and 3 brothers as follows: Mrs. Bertha O'GORMAN, Mrs. Dorothy BALEK, both of Mason City; Mrs. Neil CHRISTENSEN, Beetown, Wis.; Francis WADE, Clifford WADE, both of Mason City; and Clarence WADE of Couer d'Alene, Idaho.

NOTE: The submarine USS Lagarto (SS-371) departed from Subic Bay on April 12, 1945 and headed for the South China Sea to conduct routine patrol duty. During mid-watch on May 3, 1945, she rendezoused with the submarine Baya (SS-318) during which time both captains discussed their plans. Later, by 15:00 hours, the Baya began to send reports to the Lagarto approximately every half-hour. The Lagarto failed to respond. Upon examining Japanese records, post-war, it was determined that the Lagarto probably was attacked and sank by the Japanese minelayer Hatsutaka on May 3rd. The wreck was discovered in May of 2005 in 230 feet of water in the Gulf of Thailand. Exploration of the wreck revealed a large rupture on her port bow and an opened torpedo tube door. The torpedo tube was empty, suggesting that the Lagarto had been able to fire a torpedo before she sank. The wreck was photographed for 6 days in June of 2006 by Salvor (ARS-52)'s Navy divers. These photographs were reviewed by naval archeologists who determined that the wreck was the Lagarto, thus solving the mystery of the submarine's fate 60 years after she was lost.
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Lagarto_(SS-371); thaiwreckdiver.com/lagarto.htm; usslagarto.com/

Transcriptions and note by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2013

Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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