Yankton in Yankton County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

USS Scorpion (SS-278)

Launched 20 July 1942

November 4, 2022

1. USS Scorpion (SS-278) Marker

Inscription.

USS Scorpion (SS-278). Launched 20 July 1942. Scorpion's first patrol was a hunting and mining mission near Honshu in April 1943. Scorpion fiercely assaulted enemy vessels in a series of submerged torpedo attacks and surface gun battles. She sank two freighters, four sampans and two patrol vessels., In her next two patrols, Scorpion inflicted even more damage on enemy shipping. Each of these three patrols earned her a battle star. On 5 January 1944, enroute to the East China and Yellow Seas for her fourth and final patrol, Scorpion rendezvoused with Herring to transfer an injured man. However, heavy seas prevented a safe transfer and Scorpion and Herring parted company. Scorpion was never seen or heard from again. The exact location, time and cause of her disappearance remain a mystery. It was later discovered that enemy minefields had been strung across the entrance to the Yellow Sea. This is the only clue to the final fate of this fearless fighting ship and her 77 courageous crewmen., On Eternal Patrol , Schmidt, M.G. CDR · Pierce, C.B. LT · Scheu, D.S. LT · Wise, R.J., Jr. LT · Brown, R.T. LTJG · Drane, R.B. LTJG · Ellis, R.H. LTJG · Drake, V.R. ENS · Alexander, J.S. · Appleton, C.W. · Bausman, L.L. · Bell, H.F. · Bynum, R.H. · Chamberlain, R.J. · Christman, H.F. · Clough, J.E. · Cornelius, T.T. · Cunningham, J.W. · Deane, L.W. , Dews, R.P. · Echorst, E.L. · English, E.J. · Faber, L.M. · Fasnacht, J.A. · Faustman, L.D. · Fergerson, N. · Flaherty, W.A., Jr. · Glazier, J.F. · Harvey, P.L. · Harvey, R.D., Jr. · Heidenrich, J.T. · Heinz, C.P. · Himes, D.A. · Hood, F.E. · Hund, C.M. · Hutchinson, R.E. · Ingram, G.E. · Jacobs, R.L. , Koster, N.L. · Krawczykowicz, E. · Labarthe, W.C. · Larimore, B.E. · Lloyd, R.W. · Manganello, L.A. · Matthews, S.E. · McMillan, R.K. · McNally, F.A., Jr. · Miller, P.J., Jr. · Morgan, H.W. · Moseby, L.E. · Rairden, R.M. · Randolph, W.L. · Rawliings, J.P. · Robillard, F.J. · Roche, T.E. · Rowe, A.V. · Saunders, B. , Seaman, D.A. · Sears, W.I. · Setvate, M.W. · Shake, J. · Shapiro, I.S. · Shea, P.D. · Sink, R.O. · Skelton, S.R. · Smith, D.E. · Smith, J.F. · Spears, C.R. · Sturges, E.A. · Tarbell, W.E. · Townsend, J. · Udick, R.V. · Voorhees, J.L. · Weidenbach, R.F. · Williford, R.R. · Womack, R.L. · Zimmerman, K. , "Sailors, Rest Your Oars"

Scorpion's first patrol was a hunting and mining mission near Honshu in April 1943. Scorpion fiercely assaulted enemy vessels in a series of submerged torpedo attacks and surface gun battles. She sank two freighters, four sampans and two patrol vessels.

In her next two patrols, Scorpion inflicted even more damage on enemy shipping. Each of these three patrols earned her a battle star. On 5 January 1944, enroute to the East China and Yellow Seas for her fourth and final patrol, Scorpion rendezvoused with Herring to transfer an injured man. However, heavy seas prevented a safe transfer and Scorpion and Herring parted company. Scorpion was never seen or heard from again. The exact location, time and cause of her disappearance remain a mystery. It was later discovered that enemy minefields had been strung across the entrance to the Yellow Sea. This is the only clue to the final fate of this fearless fighting ship and her 77 courageous crewmen.

On Eternal Patrol
Schmidt, M.G. CDR · Pierce, C.B. LT · Scheu, D.S. LT · Wise, R.J., Jr. LT · Brown, R.T. LTJG · Drane, R.B. LTJG · Ellis, R.H. LTJG · Drake, V.R. ENS · Alexander, J.S. · Appleton, C.W. · Bausman, L.L. · Bell, H.F. · Bynum, R.H. · Chamberlain, R.J. · Christman, H.F. · Clough, J.E. · Cornelius, T.T. · Cunningham,

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J.W. · Deane, L.W.
Dews, R.P. · Echorst, E.L. · English, E.J. · Faber, L.M. · Fasnacht, J.A. · Faustman, L.D. · Fergerson, N. · Flaherty, W.A., Jr. · Glazier, J.F. · Harvey, P.L. · Harvey, R.D., Jr. · Heidenrich, J.T. · Heinz, C.P. · Himes, D.A. · Hood, F.E. · Hund, C.M. · Hutchinson, R.E. · Ingram, G.E. · Jacobs, R.L.
Koster, N.L. · Krawczykowicz, E. · Labarthe, W.C. · Larimore, B.E. · Lloyd, R.W. · Manganello, L.A. · Matthews, S.E. · McMillan, R.K. · McNally, F.A., Jr. · Miller, P.J., Jr. · Morgan, H.W. · Moseby, L.E. · Rairden, R.M. · Randolph, W.L. · Rawliings, J.P. · Robillard, F.J. · Roche, T.E. · Rowe, A.V. · Saunders, B.
Seaman, D.A. · Sears, W.I. · Setvate, M.W. · Shake, J. · Shapiro, I.S. · Shea, P.D. · Sink, R.O. · Skelton, S.R. · Smith, D.E. · Smith, J.F. · Spears, C.R. · Sturges, E.A. · Tarbell, W.E. · Townsend, J. · Udick, R.V. · Voorhees, J.L. · Weidenbach, R.F. · Williford, R.R. · Womack, R.L. · Zimmerman, K.
"Sailors, Rest Your Oars"

Erected by U.S. Submarine Veterans WWII S.D. Chapter.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Still On Patrol series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 20, 1942.

Location.

November 4, 2022

2. USS Scorpion (SS-278) Marker

42° 51.999′ N, 97° 23.684′ W. Marker is in Yankton, South Dakota, in Yankton County. Memorial is on Riverside Drive west of Douglas Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yankton SD 57078, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. William H. McMaster (within shouting distance of this marker); Meridian Bridge Connects Continent from North to South (within shouting distance of this marker); Crossroads of Culture (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Flood of 1881 Leaves Lost Settlements in its Wake (approx. 0.2 miles away); Yankton: Territorial Capital (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Dakota National Bank of Yankton (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Intersection of Third & Walnut (approx. 0.2 miles away); Yankton Riverboats (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yankton.

November 4, 2022

3. USS Scorpion (SS-278) Marker

USS Scorpion (SS-278) Memorial image. Click for full size.

November 4, 2022

4. USS Scorpion (SS-278) Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2022. This page has been viewed 133 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 1, 2022.