 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The below photos were provided by Thomas Howard Sewell. They belonged to his grandfather, Howard Spence, who died in 1970. Howard was a retired GMGCM(SS) who served on Tirante's commissioning crew and made the first war patrol on her. He was also a plank owner on USS Trigger (SS-237) (made 11 patrols on her), USS Silversides (SS-236), USS Piper (SS-409), USS Guardfish (SS-217), USS Trigger II (SS-564) (plank owner), and USS Sarda (SS-488). He is mentioned several times in Captain Edward L. Beach's book, Submarine. |
| The loss of USS Trigger was devastating to many of the Tirante's crew who had served on her. Howard Spence also lost his older brother, Ernie, who served on USS Snook (SS-279). Ernie left two children, one of which (David) joined the submarine force. Howard assisted him in being assigned to Tirante as his first boat. And, Howard's cousin, Bobby Spence, served on Tirante during a refit project. |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|