To Whom It may concern;
I am writing you to let you know that I really enjoyed your web site. I
have been extremely fortunate to recently make the acquaintance of
meeting one of your shipmates, Mr. Harold Earls! In the last 2 weeks I
have corresponded with Harold many times and he has sent me some amazing
photographs of his adventures in his sub days. I feel as if I know many
of you through Harold's photos and stories he as shared with me. My main
reason for writing is to somehow say thank you to all of you for your
amazing service to our country. You guys are all true heroes and I felt
it important to say. You service may have been many years ago but it is
not forgotten! I really appreciate your bravery and dedication and for
sharing all of your amazing photographs and memories via this web site.
Harold has become a friend and from reading his writings and hearing his
stories you all deserve a major thank you.

Sincerely,

Jason Abels
Miami, Fl USA
Age 36 ;-)
 

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 Jason,

I appreciate your kind words, but back then we never would have thought of ourselves as heroes, we were just a bunch of guys in dirty dungarees riding a smelly old sub poking holes in the ocean.
We breathed diesel fumes, drank stale water, and didn't bathe for weeks on end. We slept in bunks that a homeless person wouldn't touch, and usually wound up with someone's smelly feet in our faces.
Our tales of daring-do revolved not around heroism and duty to country, but to the last bar brawl and the blond bar maid with the tattoo on her arm.
In ports across the world, we caroused like drunken Vikings, staggering down the dirty streets smelling of diesel fumes and beer.

This is what we lived. This is what we were. Not heroes nor villains nor the great American fighting man.

We were just a bunch of crazy kids that loved our country, the Navy and most of all, our boat.

Bob "Pecos" Larsen

Oh, and by the way, we used to call Harold "Squirrelly Earls."