From: Roy Leonhardt
Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2005 11:34 AM
Subject: Squalus survivor dies at 90

 

Last local Squalus survivor dies at 90

 

By MICHAEL GOOT

 

Portsmouth Bureau Chief

 

PORTSMOUTH - Gerald C. McLees, one of the last men to survive the tragic sinking of the USS Squalus submarine off the Isle of Shoals, passed away at his Portsmouth home on Thursday. He was 90.

 

Although his lifetime included military service at Pearl Harbor, dinner at the White House with former President George W. Bush, 10 combat missions in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and escaping the Dust Bowl in Kansas in his youth, McLees was best remembered for surviving the USS Squalus.

 

McLees was among 32 other submariners rescued on May 23, 1939 when the USS Squalus sank in 243 feet of water just southeast of the Isle of Shoals during a test dive. The men were underwater for 39 hours. Twenty-six sailors died when the interior compartments flooded.

 

"It is with deep sadness that Portsmouth Naval Shipyard bids farewell to Mr. Gerald McLees. Mr. McLees proudly served his Navy and this nation with heroic courage and commitment that continues to inspire those in service to our country today. He with his shipmates aboard USS Squalus forever changed the course of history for our Navy," said Debbie White, public affairs officer for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

 

"For those of us at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the conning tower of USS Squalus stands as a constant reminder of the sacrifice, dedication and selfless service of great men like Gerald McLees. Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Mr. Gerald McLees," she said.

 

The survivors of the USS Squalus were rescued by Charles "Swede" Momsen, who directed the use of a diving bell - an apparatus consisting of a container only open at the bottom and supplied with air compressed through a hose. The rescue of the Squalus remains the only successful underwater rescue in world history.

 

An inquiry determined that there was a mechanical failure in the engine induction valve, but the cause was never completely determined. The Squalus, which was built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, was refurbished and re-christened the USS Sailfish.

 

There were only six living survivors of the Squalus accident in 2000. McLees was the last one from this area. Allen Bryson of Connecticut is believed to be last living survivor.

 

Capt. William McDonough, former commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, termed McLees death as a real loss.

 

"What a shame. What a great guy he was ... a true hero survivor of one of the early naval disasters - very low-key, very mild-mannered, a real gentleman," he said.

 

McDonough said he saw McLees a few months ago at a submarine birthday party. "He was outfitted in his old uniform, which believe it or not, still fit. I'm terribly sorry to see him go," he said.

 

Gene Allmendinger of Durham, a World War II veteran and retired professor of naval architecture at the University of New Hampshire, called McLees a "splendid man" and said he was a good friend of the Albacore organization in Portsmouth.

 

"Throughout the years, he's supported the Navy Yard and the submarine force very gallantly. It's a shame to see that type of person go," he said.

 

"He's a real hero in my eyes. He's a great fellow. A very quiet person," he said.

 

Allmendinger said McLees actively supported the submarine vets at the Albacore. He said the Albacore might want to do some official memorial observance in the future for McLees.

 

He said he did not talk about his experiences on the Squalus much.

 

"He was just there and we all knew what he had been through," he said.

 

According to his obituary, "McLees never considered himself a hero. Interviewed several times for documentaries, articles and books over the years, McLees insisted that he and his crewmates were simply doing their jobs and that the real heroes of the Squalus were the shipmates who lost their lives and the divers who risked their lives to effect the rescue."

 

The story of the USS Squalus was told in the book "The Terrible Hours," which was written by Peter Maas in 1999.

 

Also, Portsmouth Poet Laureate John Perrault wrote a song about the accident called "Ballad of the Squalus" featuring McLees telling him the story of how they were rescued. A passage from the song reads as follows:

 

"Listen - I hear something, like a rumble in a fog;

 

Men take hammers bang the hull, bang like hell by God;

 

They're up there looking for us, I know It in my bones;

 

Those guys will risk their lives to get us out and bring us home.'

 

Searchers grab the orange buoy, now they're dragging grapnel;

 

A diver's boots land on the hatch, they're lowering down the life Bell;

 

33 men brought up above, after 39 hours of dying:

 

Four months later 25 men towed in for identifying.

 

A movie about the accident, "Submerged," was produced in 2001. McLees attended a private screening of the film at the White House.

 

McLees, who was 25 at the time of the accident, was an electrician's mate 3rd class. He served on the USS Sailfish and went out on war patrols. Then, he served on the USS Crevalle submarine. When the war ended, he headed back to combat in the Pacific on the USS Sea Leopard.

 

After attaining the rank of chief, McLees retired from the Navy in 1956. He then worked at the Portsmouth Naval shipyard as chief electrical inspector of submarines until his retirement in 1972.

 

Graveside services with full military honors were held at Calvary Cemetery in Portsmouth on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Visiting hours were held at the Farrell Funeral Home at 684 State St. on Monday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Portsmouth Home Health and Hospice at 95 Brewery Lane, Unit 11, Portsmouth, NH 03801.