BROWN-GEORGE

LCDR George Estabrook Brown Jr., attended Yale University then joined the Navy in 1940,helping to inaugurate the V-7 reserve training program. He entered submarine service in 1942, making five combat patrols in the USS Sculpin SS-191 as Chief Engineering Officer.

On November 19, 1943 Sculpin,was in an action with IJN Yamagumo, a destroyer. She sustained enormous damage that forced the Sculpin to surface in order to allow the crew to attempt to survive her sinking. Sculpin's one 4-inch gun and two 20 mm guns were pitted against the Japanese destroyer's six 5.1 inch guns, torpedo and automatic weapons. An early strike went through the conning tower, killing all of the senior officers. LT Brown was the highest ranking officer left. He ordered the sub sunk and the crew to abandon ship.

LT Brown was taken prisoner with the surviving crew on 11/19/1943 and transferred to the IJN Chuyo, a Light Aircraft Carrier which was sunk by the USS Sailfish SS-192 on 12/04/1943. The surviving POW's were transferred to a secret Japanese Navy Interrogation Camp at Ofuna, Honshu and later released to the POW Camp Ashio in Honshu Japan where they were forced labor in a Copper Mine until repatriated, 09/04/1945.

Submitted by Doug Bewall RMCM USN Ret.