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In this series, reporter Jennifer Grogan and multimedia director Peter Huoppi interviewed several U.S. Navy veterans who served aboard submarines during World War II.

* The videos in this series won a regional Emmy award in May 2010.

Stories

He kept his faith in the 'man upstairs'

 May 29, 2009; Updated: 1:57 pm

Ernest "Ernie" Plantz survived 1,297 days as a prisoner of war during World War II because he had a "strong belief in the man upstairs" and the will to live.

Another 'kid' who was just doing his job

 May 28, 2009; Updated: 1:57 pm

At 18 years old, Warren Wildes did not think about dying even though he was traveling through mined waters and facing enemy fire on the USS Flying Fish during World War II.

Aboard Sealion, 'nobody was a hero'

 May 27, 2009; Updated: 1:55 pm

The crew of the submarine USS Sealion always worked together, as one team, William "Bucky" Scarano said.
"That's the way it was," Scarano said. "Nobody was a hero."

You Do Your Job, Even When You're Scared

 May 26, 2009; Updated: 1:59 pm

The first time George Jones was scared during World War II was on a patrol near the Pacific island of Tarawa. It was October 1942 and his submarine, USS S-38 (SS-143), had been ordered to scout the island, which was occupied by the...

Close Calls, Lucky Breaks And Attacks From Above

 May 24, 2009; Updated: 1:54 pm

Having just finished training to become a Navy radioman, Deen Brown headed to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to join the crew of the USS Nevada.
It was December 1941 and Japan had just attacked Pearl Harbor. He was 19.

Videos

 

Stories of the Silent Service, Chapter 1

 May 28, 2009; Updated: 2:01 pm

WWII veteran Deen Brown twice lost his ship while he was at school.

Stories of the Silent Service, Chapter 2

 May 27, 2009; Updated: 2:02 pm

WWII veteran George Jones recalls the scary moments on board a submarine.

Stories of the Silent Service, Chapter 3

 May 26, 2009; Updated: 2:02 pm

WWII veteran William Scarano tells of a sad episode aboard his sub.

Stories of the Silent Service, Chapter 4

 May 25, 2009; Updated: 2:03 pm

World War II veteran Warren Wildes remembers the Japanese prisoner on his submarine.

Stories of the Silent Service, Chapter 5

 May 24, 2009; Updated: 2:04 pm

WWII veteran Ernie Plantz tells of life in a POW camp after his submarine sunk.

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