World War II Honoree

Charles H. 'Tim' McCoy

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

San Angelo, Texas

Honored By

John C. Burkhardt, AAG MOPH, Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas

ENTERED THE NAVY AT AGE 17, PRIOR TO THE START OF WWII ON NOVEMBER 1, 1941. HE WENT THROUGH BASIC TRAINING IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. HE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO THE SUBMARINE USS TROUT. AFTER THE FALL OF MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS THE USS TROUT TOOK ON THE DARING MISSION OF DELIVERING AMMUNITION TO CORREGIDOR ISLAND, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AFTER COMPLETING THIS MISSION ON FEBRUARY 12, 1942 THEY TOOK ON BOARD THE ENTIRE TREASURY OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, BRINGING IT BACK SAFELY TO PEARL HARBOR. THE PRECIOUS CARGO WAS THEN LOADED ONTO THE CRUISER USS DETROIT AND TRANSPORTED TO THE U.S. FOR THIS ACTION THE CREW OF THE USS TROUT WERE ALL AWARDED THE SILVER STAR AND A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. SUBSEQUENTLY HE WAS REASSIGNED TO THE SUBMARINE USS GRENADIER. ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 20, 1943 DURING ITS SIXTH WAR PATROL THE USS GRENADIER WAS DISCOVERED AND ATTACKED BY ENEMY AIRCRAFT WHILE ON PATROL OFF THE COAST OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. LOSING ALL POWER, THE USS GRENADIER WAS SUNK 270 FEET OF WATER. WHEN IT SETTLED TO THE BOTTOM IT WAS LEAKING BADLY AND HAD A FIRE IN THE CONTROL CUBICLE. AFTER LYING HELPLESSLY ON THE BOTTOM FOR NEARLY A DAY, THE CREW WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE DAMAGE AND RAISE THE DISABLED VESSEL TO THE SURFACE JUST AS NIGHT FELL THE FOLLOWING DAY. WITH A DAMAGED PROPELLER SHAFT, THE USS GRENADIER BARELY MOVE. IT WAS AGAIN DETECTED BY A JAPANESE SHIP AND AS IT CLOSED IN ON THEM THE CAPTAIN ORDERED THE MEN TO SCUTTLE THE SHIP. ALL HANDS WERE TAKEN PRISONER AND BROUGHT ASHORE TO PENANG WHERE THEY WERE CONFINED IN THE CATHOLIC CONVENT. THE ENTIRE CREW SUFFERED CRUEL TORTURE BY THE SECRET POLICE FOR THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS. THEY WERE SENT TO CHANGI PRISON IN SINGAPORE AND LATER TO KYUSHU ISLAND, JAPAN TO WORK AS POW LABOR IN THE YAHATA STEEL MILLS.