Scott City WWII Vet Finds "closure" After 64 Years!

Splinter Fleet Book Cover

The Internet has opened many opportunities for young people to learn about historical events. Student research (these days) are but a finger tip away given today's technology.

Our 14 year old was recently given an assignment where he was to research and describe (alphabetically) events or subjects associated with WWII. After struggling with a few of the "ABC's" associated with WWII, I called my father Gendron McFall (of Scott City Missouri) and asked his first hand suggestions as a veteran of WWII.

My father quickly progressed through the alphabet providing excellent answers for A (i.e. Atom Bomb) and so forth; until we reached the letter S. It was then he exclaimed "S. . .well that's easy. . .Sub Chaser!" I asked him what was a Sub Chaser? He went on to say he spent 2 years on a Sub Chaser during WWII.

He went on to explain that a Sub Chaser was a 110 foot wooden ship (the smallest commisioned ship in the US Navy) having only a crew of 27 men with objective of seeking out and destroying enemy submarines.

This was the first time my father spoke of his war experience in such detail. So, I asked my father "what ship were you on?". He proudly stately "I was on the Sub Chaser 648".

While my goal was to find a picture of a Sub Chaser for my son's project (on the Internet), I found that his old skipper on the SC 648 had written 2 books about their experiences in WWII. My father had no idea.

I immediately ordered both books "Taste of Salt" and Splinter Fleet". The later had several pictures and stories of my father while very very young. After 64 years, my father was reunited with memories of his WWII day. He was also able to contact his skipper and another sole surviver from the SC 648.

My father was so excited with every detail of the publication as well as having conversation with long lost friends. He told me "son you have giving me one of the most exciting times of me life". I told my father "well. . .you are now the most famous person I know". Thanks for being my father!