Harold McCormick
Member #1184-1989
During World War II, HAROLD McCORMICK
was a 1st Lieutenant in the US Navy's "Armed Guard" and was
assigned as Gunnery Officer aboard the SS WILLIAM F. GASTON, a cargo ship
headed northwards along the east coast of South America. On a stormy
night, his ship was spotted by JÜRGEN OESTEN (1681-1990) in command of U-861.
The GASTON was sunk and the survivors, including HAL McCORMICK, spent
long hours tossing about on an angry sea until they were rescued.
HAL
continued his naval career and ultimately retired as a Lt. Commander in the US
Navy. Then he decided to find out who had sunk his ship. After much
research, he located JÜRGEN OESTEN in Germany and contacted him. The two
men corresponded, then HAL and his wife made the journey across the Atlantic to
meet this man who had shot his ship out from under him. The two men became
fast friends, corresponding regularly and visiting each other in their homes on
several occasions.
Their last meeting was on our Sharkhunters "Patrol" in the
Windy City (Chicago) in the early 1990's when both men were with us.
Shortly thereafter, HAL was diagnosed with terminal cancer and he passed away.