German U-boat commander: an obituary

[jon_norstog]

Richard Hardegen commanded U-boats off New York city and the Jersey Shore in 1942. This is an interest6ing story.....


https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/17/obituaries/reinhard-hardegen-who-led-u-boats-to-americas-shore-dies-at-105.html


104 years OLD. Cut down in his prime!


jn

[JB White]

Amazing man. I could regret never having met him. Like many in the Kriegmarine he wasn't all pro-Nazi. He simply did his duty when called upon.

[Roadkingtrax]

I remember his interviews very well. It was luck and fate which would grant him a long life in which to share them.

[Jiminvirginia]

Last living U Boat Captain I believe. Both of my parents have stories of the U boat menace off our coast. My mom growing up near Boston, dad as part of the Naval Armed Guard.

[barretcreek]

There was an ex-U-Boat commander in Diego Garcia when I was there. Gave the Navy fits because he would not follow the convoy operations plan. "My job was sinking American freighters!".

[Vern Humphrey]

There's a U boat sunk off Moorehead, SC -- U85

U85

Sixteen fathoms deep she lies
When last she saw the day
With sickly sun and watery clouds
And waters oily gray

She stalked the wallowing merchantmen
Lay waiting on their track
Until Roper’s relentless crew
Broke her armored back

They heard the tortured bulkheads shriek
The buckling plates gave way
The bloated corpses came ashore
And were spirited away

The returning echo shows her place
The grapple holds her fast
Swimming down the long, long line
We see her loom at last

Her silent deck gun sits askew
Her hatches all are blank
The seawolf in her final berth
Upon the Outer Bank.

The ships that sail our coastline
In peace may come and go
But if the seawolves come again
Again we'll serve them so

Her silent deck gun sits askew
Her hatches all are blank
The seawolf in her final lair

Upon the Outer Bank.

[m1ashooter]

Lived a long life while many of his fellow U Boat men did not.

[Clark Howard]

The U-boat is on the bottom off of Morehead City, North Carolina. After reading "Das Boot, and Iron Coffins", my Dad, who served in the Merchant Marine, said, "The Germans deserved everything they got." Regards, Clark

[Vern Humphrey]

The U-boat is on the bottom off of Morehead City, North Carolina. After reading "Das Boot, and Iron Coffins", my Dad, who served in the Merchant Marine, said, "The Germans deserved everything they got." Regards, Clark

My mistake -- but I've visited her. She's legally a war grave. And yes, they deserved what they got.

[JB White]

Either they went down or you did. That's why Sherman didn't say, "War is a piece of cake".

[Vern Humphrey]

Everyone should read the story of PQ 17. That was a supply convoy headed for Russia, which the Royal Navy abandoned, believing the Tripitz was coming out. About two dozen ships were sunk in arctic waters -- with virtually a zero chance for survival for their crews.

[Tom in N.J.]

According to the "U Boats" site he was a Knights Cross holder. Here is his picture. Here is a link to his history on the U boats site. https://uboat.net/men/hardegen.htm

43685

[barretcreek]

Had a HS teacher who'd been in the Armed Guard. Didn't find out until after I'd given away my copy of "Liberty Ships. The Ugly Ducklings". His one war story was about being an Ensign in charge of his first live fire drill. He dropped a live 3" shell and spent the rest of the voyage working to gain the confidence of his crew.

[jon_norstog]

There's a U boat sunk off Moorehead, SC -- U85

U85

Sixteen fathoms deep she lies
When last she saw the day
With sickly sun and watery clouds
And waters oily gray

She stalked the wallowing merchantmen
Lay waiting on their track
Until Roper’s relentless crew
Broke her armored back

They heard the tortured bulkheads shriek
The buckling plates gave way
The bloated corpses came ashore
And were spirited away

The returning echo shows her place
The grapple holds her fast
Swimming down the long, long line
We see her loom at last

Her silent deck gun sits askew
Her hatches all are blank
The seawolf in her final berth
Upon the Outer Bank.

The ships that sail our coastline
In peace may come and go
But if the seawolves come again
Again we'll serve them so

Her silent deck gun sits askew
Her hatches all are blank
The seawolf in her final lair

Upon the Outer Bank.

Vern, did you write this?


It's pretty damn good.

jn