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At random: The first Japanese prisoner of war captured by the Americans was Kazuo Sakamaki, an ensign in the Imperial Japanese Navy. He was captured on the morning of December 7, 1941. Sakamaki had set an explosive charge to destroy his disabled submarine, which had been trapped on Waimanalo Beach. When the explosives failed to go off, he swam to the bottom of the submarine to investigate the cause of the failure and became unconscious due to a lack of oxygen. Sakamaki was found by a Hawaiian soldier, David Akui, and was taken into military custody. When he awoke, he found himself in a hospital under American armed guard. After the war he returned to Japan and found work with the Toyota Motor Corporation before retiring in 1987. Sakamaki died on November 29, 1999, aged 81.

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Coyote

Posted 2025-05-24 6:50 PM (#105450)

Master and Commander

Posts: 1229

Location: NE Florida

Subject: Saturday Obits

https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/

The above link goes to the USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.) Facebook page where their members who have gone on “Eternal Patrol” are noted.

I’ll keep my work here going, trying to get others who were not USSVI members. You’re encouraged to look there as well as here! Obviously, there’ll be some I miss and some I duplicate.

HARRINGTON .. .. .. Retired Businessman, U.S. Navy Veteran, and Lifelong Adventurer
Gerald Lawrence "Gary" Harrington, age 83, passed away peacefully from pneumonia on Monday, May 19, 2025, at his beloved home in Pelham, New Hampshire. In his final days, he was surrounded by the love of his family in the very home where so many unforgettable gatherings and dinners had taken place over the years.
Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Gary was the youngest of four siblings and a proud graduate of Lynn English High School in Lynn, Massachusetts, Class of 1958. He met the love of his life, May (Dawson) Harrington, at the Harp and Bard Pub in Danvers, MA. They were married six months later, beginning a partnership that would span 56 years and countless adventures. Together, they raised two sons, Gary and Sean.
Gary lived an extraordinary life marked by service, success, and deep personal connection. He served honorably in the United States Navy as a proud diesel submariner during the beginning stages of the Vietnam War. Aboard the "Blue Gil", he was onboard the first US submarine to navigate up the Saigon River in Vietnam. He earned his "dolphins" in 1959 and served aboard three submarines during a time when diesel power ruled the seas. By the age of 18, he had already circled the globe multiple times underwater, traveling from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, Vladivostok, Okinawa, and beyond. As a sonar operator, his role was to identify the unique sound signatures of allied and enemy vessels-work he performed with focus and distinction.
After his Navy service, Gary launched a successful career in the furniture industry. He was a consummate professional-an expert in merchandising, design, sales training, and customer relations. He built and led his own manufacturers' representative business and served as President of the New England Home Furnishing Association. His clients included some of the most successful furniture stores across New England. In his field, he was known as a masterclass in sales and relationship-building.
To those who knew him, Gary was more than a businessman or veteran-he was a man of immense wisdom and unwavering character. He led with integrity, inspired others through action, and remained deeply intentional in his conversations. Whether discussing career choices, politics, faith, or life's passions, his words were always thoughtful, honest, and grounded in high ideals.
To his family, Gary was simply "Pops"-the patriarch and the heart of their lives. He created unforgettable adventures: 30-mile canoe trips through the wilderness, ocean voyages through eight-foot swells, and countless camping and boating trips that brought everyone closer to nature and to each other. He wore his role as leader with humility and joy, so often putting others in life enriching situations.
Gary was a proud veteran and a longtime member of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He volunteered for many years as a tour guide aboard the decommissioned submarines in Fall River, Massachusetts. With unmatched knowledge and passion, he explained every valve, hatch, and pipe-skills that all submariners were required to master in the unforgiving conditions of underwater deployment.
He was a dedicated father and fan, especially during his sons' high school and college wrestling careers. With his wife May and many other family members, he traveled across the country to support his boys, forging friendships with wrestlers and families everywhere. His voice was always the loudest in the gym, cheering not only for his sons but for the many athletes who had come to admire and respect him. For his grandchildren, this trend continued in force. Always a constant at every sporting and celebration event that his body would allow for those children. Again, one of the loudest in the stands, as he would bang his cane and yell with everything he had.
Gary's adventurous and generous spirit never faded. He loved to be surrounded by friends and family in extraordinary settings, talking about life's deeper meanings. For nearly 20 years, his home was the site of legendary Tuesday night dinners, open to all. St. Patrick's Day and New Year's Eve were always celebrated in grand fashion-reflecting his love for tradition, joy, and community.
A devoted member of the New England Bible Church in Andover, Massachusetts, Gary lived a life rooted in Christian values. In 2015, he traveled to Guatemala on a church mission to help build a new place of worship for a local community-a journey that reflected both his faith and his giving heart.
Gary will be remembered by so many for his warmth, insight, and the rare ability to listen deeply and counsel wisely. Friends and family turned to him for advice they could trust. For those without fathers, Gary often filled that role with grace and compassion, earning lifelong bonds with many of his sons' friends that endured over four decades.
A lover of nature and animals, Gary felt most at home in the outdoors-on a boat, by a river, or in the woods. His passion for exploration shaped the lives of those around him and left a legacy of curiosity, courage, and care.
Gary is survived by his loving wife, May Harrington, and his two sons: Gary and Jacqueline Harrington of Pelham, NH, and Sean and Jacqueline Harrington of Dracut, MA. He will be dearly missed by his five grandchildren: Michael, Madeline, Cassidy, Sophia, and Isabella.
He was a remarkable man who lived a remarkable life-and his spirit will live on in the many lives he touched.

BRACKEN .. .. .. Frank R. Bracken, 68, of Gibsonburg, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2025, at his residence. Frank was born October 10, 1956, in Idaho, the son of Frank and Marguerite (Bausch) Bracken. Most of his younger years were spent in the quaint town of Pullman, Washington. His journey through life was marked by adventure, dedication, and love.
Frank answered the call of duty by enlisting in the United States Navy, where he served as a Nuclear Engineer aboard the USS Nimitz and USS Enterprise Aircraft Carriers, as well as the USS New Jersey Submarine. His experiences during this time ignited a passion for travel and discovery that would shape the rest of his life.
Upon returning home, Frank embraced a new chapter, working diligently with First Energy while building a life filled with memories. On June 18, 1988, he married Gloria Popp at Christ United Methodist Church, and together they navigated life's journey until her passing on March 4, 2021. Frank and Gloria shared a bond that defined their lives, one filled with love and adventure. After several years Frank and Gloria adopted a 4 year old boy they named Richard Lincoln. This made their family complete. The three of them enjoyed going on cruises, traveling out west to visit Frank's parents and elsewhere both in and out of the United States.

A devoted member of the Gibsonburg Volunteer Fire Department, Frank was deeply committed to his community. He possessed an appreciation for the open road and the great outdoors, which led him to become member of the Miata Club and a motorcycle enthusiast. Due to his meticulous attention to detail and discerning taste in motorcycles, dealers compensated him to travel and promote their brands while he was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. He could be found maintaining classic cars and his Miata, often sharing exciting tales of racing at the Michigan International Speedway with Gloria by his side, feeling the thrill of life at 125 mph.

Frank enjoyed a variety of pastimes, most outdoors, including shooting skeet as a member of the Gibsonburg Sportsman Club. Together with Gloria, he cherished their camping trips, starting from a humble pop-up tent to their beloved RV adventures. Upon retirement, he found immense joy in bicycling and helping to care for the Maumee Bay Campground as part of the Maumee Bay Seniors, where he formed lasting friendships and created beautiful memories.

Frank is survived by his son, Richard Bracken; and sister-in-law, Julia Popp. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and brother-in-law, Lawrance Popp.
Visitation will take place at 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, May 29, 2025, until the time of services at 11:00 a.m., at Gibsonburg Community Church, 795 W. Madison, Gibsonburg, OH.

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