1. Elkhorn graduate discovered in wreck 80 years later
2. Long-lost Elkhorn alum found in wreckage after 80 years.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : An Elkhorn High School alumnus has been identified as one of the sailors aboard the USS Harder, which was recently discovered in the South China Sea, according to officials. Calvin A. Bull enlisted in 1942 and was deployed on the USS Harder in 1944. He is survived by several cousins and nieces in Elkhorn.
Joann Vorrath, his second cousin, expressed her long-held hope for the discovery of the USS Harder, stating, “Through the years, there’s been different times they have discovered ships that downed, submarines, and other ships, too.” Vorrath fondly remembers Bull as a cheerful individual with a wide circle of friends. The USS Harder was lost in battle on August 24, 1944, along with its entire crew of 79 submariners. This occurred during its sixth patrol of the war, as the U.S. aimed to reclaim the Philippines from Japanese occupation.
The discovery of the USS Harder, a significant U.S. Navy submarine from World War II, took place eight decades after its last patrol. The wreck lies under 3,000 feet of water off the northern Philippine island of Luzon. Remarkably, it remains upright and intact, except for damage behind its conning tower caused by a Japanese depth charge.
Despite being lost for 80 years, Calvin Bull was never forgotten by his family. Calvin L. Bull, his cousin, shared that his father held a deep affection for Calvin and intended to name his son after him, which he did. The recent revelation of the USS Harder’s resting place has brought closure to the family.
Calvin Bull played a crucial role in sinking and damaging numerous Japanese destroyers. Vorrath mentioned that Bull received a bronze medal during the submarine’s fifth patrol. Reflecting on Bull’s bravery, she emphasised, “There’s movies in Hollywood that are make-believe war heroes of stories that maybe never really happened. This is a real-life war hero.”
The information in this report was sourced from CNN. For more updates and news, visit KETV NewsWatch 7..
Elkhorn grad wreck 80 years later
Long-tailed keyword from Elkhorn grad wreck 80 years later.
