Departing New York on 1 March on her second voyage, The USS Leopold (DE-319) took her screening station — as part of CortDiv 22 — with the 27-ship convoy CU-16 bound for the British Isles. On the 8th, she reported an HF/DF intercept which indicated an enemy submarine on the route of the convoy. The route was consequently altered. On 9 March, while south of Iceland, she reported a radar contact at 19:50 at 8,000 yd (7,300 m), which placed it 7 mi (11 km) south of the convoy at 57°37′0″N 26°30′0″W. Assisted by the destroyer escort Joyce, Leopold was ordered to intercept. General Quarters was sounded and orders were issued to "fire on sight." A flare was released and gun crew strained to sight the submarine in the lighted area. The U-boat was almost submerged when spotted and the gun crews had to work blind. Leopold was struck by an acoustic torpedo fired from the German submarine U-255. Badly damaged, she was abandoned.
Richard was a Seaman, Second Class in the United States Coast Guard.
Service # 608051
He entered the Service from Michigan
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Awards: Purple Heart
My mother spoke of Richard on many occasions. They were first cousins and very close. They corresponded during the war as letters always kept you in touch with home. The letters my mother received from Richard were given to me after my fathers death in 2010. I contacted the USCG museum curator and made a formal donation of the letters written by Richard to my mother.
R. Wenger
Richard was a Seaman, Second Class in the United States Coast Guard.
Service # 608051
He entered the Service from Michigan
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Awards: Purple Heart
My mother spoke of Richard on many occasions. They were first cousins and very close. They corresponded during the war as letters always kept you in touch with home. The letters my mother received from Richard were given to me after my fathers death in 2010. I contacted the USCG museum curator and made a formal donation of the letters written by Richard to my mother.
R. Wenger
Departing New York on 1 March on her second voyage, The USS Leopold (DE-319) took her screening station — as part of CortDiv 22 — with the 27-ship convoy CU-16 bound for the British Isles. On the 8th, she reported an HF/DF intercept which indicated an enemy submarine on the route of the convoy. The route was consequently altered. On 9 March, while south of Iceland, she reported a radar contact at 19:50 at 8,000 yd (7,300 m), which placed it 7 mi (11 km) south of the convoy at 57°37′0″N 26°30′0″W. Assisted by the destroyer escort Joyce, Leopold was ordered to intercept. General Quarters was sounded and orders were issued to "fire on sight." A flare was released and gun crew strained to sight the submarine in the lighted area. The U-boat was almost submerged when spotted and the gun crews had to work blind. Leopold was struck by an acoustic torpedo fired from the German submarine U-255. Badly damaged, she was abandoned.
Richard was a Seaman, Second Class in the United States Coast Guard.
Service # 608051
He entered the Service from Michigan
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Awards: Purple Heart
My mother spoke of Richard on many occasions. They were first cousins and very close. They corresponded during the war as letters always kept you in touch with home. The letters my mother received from Richard were given to me after my fathers death in 2010. I contacted the USCG museum curator and made a formal donation of the letters written by Richard to my mother.
R. Wenger
Richard was a Seaman, Second Class in the United States Coast Guard.
Service # 608051
He entered the Service from Michigan
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Awards: Purple Heart
My mother spoke of Richard on many occasions. They were first cousins and very close. They corresponded during the war as letters always kept you in touch with home. The letters my mother received from Richard were given to me after my fathers death in 2010. I contacted the USCG museum curator and made a formal donation of the letters written by Richard to my mother.
R. Wenger
Inscription
Richard was a Seaman, Second Class in the United States Coast Guard.
Service # 608051
He entered the Service from Michigan
Missing in Action and Buried at Sea
Awards: Purple Heart
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