Harold Leroy Fiste and the Trigger Maru: A Veteran's Day Post

To all our service men and women, past and present, Thank You.

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Coming from a pretty big Polish family, with Great Uncles galore, I grew up around WWII stories. Uncle Leo was at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack, his brother Chester served in the Army Air Corps, another brother (Johnny) served throughout the Pacific in the Merchant Marines, and my Grandpa trudged through Europe as part of an anti-aircraft crew. The husband of my grandma's best friend lost an eye to the Japanese, and on my Dad's side my Uncle Stanley wrote of a tense meeting with Soviet troops in Korea as the war closed.

Rarely discussed was the sad fate of my paternal Great Aunt Vicki's husband, Chief Electrician's Mate Harold Leroy Fiste (02796181).



Harold was born in Alpha, Ohio on November 26, 1915 but called Milwaukee home. In his service career he'd earn a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He'd also lose his life along with the rest of the crew of the U.S.S. Trigger.



The Trigger (SS - 237) was a Gato class submarine that earned a fearsome reputation during WWII. That isn't hyperbole. Postwar counts credited her with sinking 18 Japanese ships totaling 86,552 tons, both good for seventh best on the naval list. She was awarded eleven battle stars and a Presidential Unit citation during the war. The text of the latter read as follows:

For outstanding performance in combat during her Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh War Patrols against the enemy. Employing highly daring and hazardous tactics, the USS TRIGGER struck at the enemy with consistent aggressiveness, seeking out and pursuing her targets with dogged determination regardless of unfavorable attack conditions. Her exceptionally notable record of severe damage inflicted on hostile shipping and the gallant fighting spirit of her officers and men reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.

Note also the glowing praise in a Navy Citation:

For outstanding heroism in action against enemy Japanese shipping and combatant units during her Ninth War Patrol in the Palau Islands area from March 23 to May 20, 1944. Undaunted by numerous enemy escort vessels and desperately severe anti-submarine measures, the USS TRIGGER skillfully penetrated convoy screens to reach her targets... She pressed home daring attacks to leave four freighters and a destroyer a mass of smoke and wreckage... After seventeen hours of skillful evasion, to resurface and strike again at the enemy...

While on her 12th combat patrol in March of 1945, Trigger attacked and sank the repair ship Odate on the 27th. That final success went unknown until after the war; the sub never had the opportunity to report the strike. Within a day Japanese aircraft had spotted and attacked the sub east of Kyusyu, Japan in approx. position 32º16'N, 132º05'E, then guided no less than three Japanese ships to its location.

After an intensive two hour attack from air forces, the Mikura, and corvettes Kaibokan No.33 and Kaibokan No.59, the Japanese reported seeing a large oil slick form.

In the area, four U.S. subs would note the sound of heavy battle, but no knowledge of the Trigger and her fate would be known until she failed to report to Midway by May 1st; she was stricken from the naval register on July 11th, and her probable destruction not confirmed until postwar records were examined.



My Great Aunt would never remarry.

For Harold Leroy Fiste, and all those who have given their lives for our nation and our freedom THANK YOU.

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I'm the Galloping Ghost of the Japanese Coast
by Constantine Guinness, Motor Machinist's Mate First Class (MOMM 1/c), United States Navy

I'm the galloping ghost of the Japanese coast.
You don't hear of me and my crew
But just ask any man off the coast of Japan.
If he knows of the Trigger Maru.

I look sleek and slender alongside my tender.
With others like me at my side,
But we'll tell you a story of battle and glory,
As enemy waters we ride.

I've been stuck on a rock, felt the depth charge's shock,
Been north to a place called Attu,
and I've sunk me two freighters atop the equator
Hot work, but the sea was cold blue.

I've cruised close inshore and carried the war
to the Empire Island Honshū,
While they wire Yokahama I could see Fujiyama,
So I stayed, to admire the view.

When we rigged to run silently, deeply I dived,
And within me the heat was terrific.
My men pouring sweat, silent and yet
Cursed me and the whole damned Pacific.

Then destroyers came sounding and depth charges pounding
My submarine crew took the test.
Far in that far off land there are no friends on hand,
To answer a call of distress.

I was blasted and shaken (some damage I be taken),
my hull bleeds and pipe lines do, too
I've come in from out there for machinery repair,
And a rest for me and my crew.

I got by on cool nerve and in silence I served,
Though I took some hard knocks in return,
One propeller shaft sprung and my battery's done,
But the enemy ships I saw burn.

I'm the galloping ghost of the Japanese coast,
You don't hear of me and my crew.
But just ask any man off the coast of Japan,
If he knows of the Trigger Maru.