Grant Fuller – Paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom

Grant Fuller was born in Polkville, New Jersey on September 13, 1923. From the 1930 U.S. Census, we learn that his father, Galen, 31, worked plumber. His mother, Grace, 31, had four children living at home at this time; Grant, 6, Galen Jr., 7, Grace, 9 and Gloria, 2. They all lived at 27 Delaware Street in Knowlton, Warren County, New Jersey.

Grant’s mother Grace died November 12, 1937. No cause was given. This was from The Courier-News 13 Nov 1937, Sat · Page 13, Bridgewater, NJ. His father Galen, resided in New York City according to his WWII Draft Registration form. He enlisted in the Army on September 15, 1942. He died in New York City in 1965 at 66 years of age.

Grant and his brother Galen were living with their aunt and uncle, Forrest and Dessie Fuller. They had three children of their own; Richard, 19, Dorothy, 13 and Alice 16. Forrest worked as a testing engineer for the War Department. The family of seven lived at 106 Dell Park in Oakwood, Montgomery County, Ohio. This information was found in the 1940 U.S. Census. A newspaper article reported that Grant’s sister Gloria, then 13 years old, was living with Grace’s sister Mrs. Howard Dentz of 416 Runyon Avenue in Watchung, N.J.

Grant joined the Navy on July 10, 1941 in Cincinnati , Ohio. After basic training, Grant volunteered for the submarine service. He received training in the basics of living in and working as part of the submarine crew in New London, Connecticut. In addition, Fuller received specialized training on operation and maintenance of the diesel engines on these boats. He attained the rating of Chief Motor Machinist's Mate with a Navy Service Number of 279 83 84.

Upon completion of his training, Fuller mustered aboard the submarine USS Gudgeon on May 31, 1942. The USS Gudgeon (SS-211) was the first American submarine to sink an enemy warship in World War II (Pacific, 27 January 1942). She was the last of the long-range Tambor-class vessels commissioned for the United States Navy in the years before the country entered World War II. Gudgeon scored 14 confirmed kills, placing her 15th on the honor roll of American submarines. She was declared overdue, presumed lost with all hands, on 7 June 1944. Of the twelve Tambor-class submarines, only five survived the war.

Next, Grant joined the crew of the sub USS Triton on March 31, 1943 and then he was assigned to the USS Tuna on August 31, 1943.

His last duty was to muster aboard the ill-fated submarine USS Bonefish (SS-223) beginning on November 21, 1943. The following information about the Bonefish was Compiled by Paul W. Wittmer and Charles R. Hinman, with editorial notes by Robert H. Downie, originally from: U.S. Submarine Losses World War II, NAVPERS 15,784, 1949 ISSUE ….

In company with TUNNY and SKATE, BONEFISH (SS-223), commanded by CDR L. L. Edge, departed Guam on 28 May 1945 to conduct her eighth war patrol. This coordinated attack group under Commander G. E. Pierce in TUNNY, which was one of three groups then penetrating the Japan Sea, was ordered to transit Tsushima Strait on 5 June 1945 and to conduct offensive patrol in the Sea of Japan off the west coast of Honshu. This area was further subdivided, with BONEFISH assigned to patrol the northern portion.

BONEFISH successfully transited Tsushima Strait, and made rendezvous with TUNNY on 16 June 1945, in position 36° 40'N, 135° 24'E. Commander Edge reported be had sunk one large transport and one medium freighter to date. On the morning of 18 June, TUNNY and BONEFISH rendezvoused in the vicinity of 38° 15'N, 136° 24'E. [Editor's Note: Position corrected from 38° 15'N, 138° 24'E.] BONEFISH asked permission to conduct a submerged daylight patrol in Toyama Wan, in the mid part of western Honshu, and having received it, departed for Suzu Misaki. She was never seen or heard from again.

BONEFISH, in accordance with the operation order, was to rendezvous with the other eight submarines of the three groups, at 46° 50'N, 140° 00'E at sunset on 23 June 1945, in preparation for the transit on 24 June of La Perouse Strait. BONEFISH did not make this rendezvous, and after the other eight vessels had successfully transited La Perouse Strait, TUNNY on 25 and 26 June waited off the entrance to the strait and unsuccessfully tried to contact BONEFISH.

Provision was made in the operation order governing this patrol group for submarines in case of necessity to proceed to Russian waters to claim a 24 hour haven, or to submit to internment in extreme need, or for them to make their exit from the Japan Sea prior to or after 24 June. When all of these possibilities had been examined, and she had not been seen or heard from by 30 July 1945, BONEFISH was reported as presumed lost.

Japanese records of anti-submarine attacks mention an attack made on 19 June 1945 [Editor's Note: Date corrected from 18 June 1945], at 37°18'N, 137° 25'E in Toyama Wan. A great many depth charges were dropped, and wood chips and oil were observed. This undoubtedly was the attack which sank BONEFISH.

In total, this vessel sank 31 enemy vessels, for a total tonnage of 158,500, and damaged 7, for 42,000 tons. She began her career as an active member of the Submarine Force with a patrol in the South China Sea in September and October 1943. She sank three freighters, two transports, a tanker and a schooner, and damaged a fourth freighter. On her second war patrol, conducted in the Celebes Sea and near Borneo, BONEFISH sank two freighters and an escort vessel, and damaged a minelayer. Again, in the South China Sea on her third patrol, BONEFISH sank a very large tanker, a medium freighter and a schooner, and damaged a second large tanker. This ship went to the Celebes and Sulu Seas for her fourth patrol and sank two freighters, a transport and a tanker, while she damaged a sub chaser. Post war information also reveals that on 14 May 1944, while firing at the large tanker, which she sank, BONEFISH hit and sank the Japanese destroyer INAZUMI.

This vessel's fifth patrol was in the same area as her fourth, and she sank two small freighters, a large tanker and five miscellaneous small craft, while she damaged a second tanker. BONEFISH covered a South China Sea area in her sixth patrol, and sank two large tankers and a freighter during September and October 1944. She also damaged two medium freighters. Then, after a thorough overhaul and the installation of much new equipment in San Francisco, BONEFISH made her seventh patrol in the East China Sea. She had only one attack opportunity and did no damage. However, she took two Japanese prisoners from a downed enemy plane, and performed reconnaissance work on the southern end of Korea. BONEFISH was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for the period of her first and third through sixth patrols.

Tragically, Grant Fuller was one of those sailors killed during the sinking of the Bonefish. His body was never recovered. Chief Fuller’s name is carved in the Tablets of the Missing in Honolulu, Hawaii. This memorial is also known as the punch bowl.

In addition, Fuller’s family placed Grant’s name on his father Galen’s headstone. It is located at the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Shawnee on the Delaware, Monroe County Pennsylvania.