| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard |
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| Press Release | Date: March 8, 2007 Contact: Chief Petty Officer Robert K. Lanier |
COAST GUARD HERO RAYMOND F. O'MALLEY PASSES AWAY
World War II veteran was last surviving
member of the sinking of the USS Escanaba (USCG WPG-77)
CLEVELAND - Raymond F. O'Malley, 86, Coast Guard World War
II veteran, honorary Chief Petty Officer and the last surviving member of the
sinking of the USS Escanaba, died today at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in
Chicago.
”The Coast Guard lost a real hero today with the passing of Mr. Ray O'Malley,”
said Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard. “As one of only two survivors following the enemy sinking of the
USS Escanaba in 1943, Ray was truly a Coast Guard legend, and was a fixture
during the annual tribute to Escanaba at its memorial in Grand Haven,
Mich. Ray never forgot his shipmates,
and for more than 60 years he recognized his fallen comrades both at the public
memorial service and with a private prayer, when he would light a candle for
the crews of both the former and current cutters named Escanaba. Six decades following the Escanaba tragedy,
Ray O'Malley is finally reunited with his shipmates. Our prayers and sympathy go out to the O'Malley family.”
O'Malley and another
crewman were the lone survivors of the Escanaba, which blew up in the North
Atlantic June 13, 1943, and sank within three minutes. A total of 103
Escanaba crewmen were lost in the sinking.
The O'Malley family has not released funeral arrangements.
Click
here for historical photo of Mr. O'Malley and the USS Escanaba (USCG WPG-77)
– This is a hyperlink
Click
here for the history of the USS Escanaba (USCG WPG-77) and a
historical documentation interview with Mr. O'Malley. – This
is a hyperlink
Click
here for images of Mr. O'Malley with Rear Adm. John E. Crowley, Jr. during the
2006 Coast Guard Day Festival. – This is a hyperlink
For more information, contact Chief Petty Officer Robert K. Lanier, Ninth Coast
Guard District Public Affairs, at (216) 902-6020.
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The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.
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