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Letters From Home: Memorial Day and Military Spouse Appreciation Month

With Memorial Day and Military Spouse Appreciation Month both falling under the month of May, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country and pay tribute to military spouses separated from loved ones putting themselves in harm’s way.

Our submarine museum’s “Letters From Home” gallery focuses on the mail correspondence between spouses separated during combat, documenting the hopes, dreams, longing, and fears of the men out at sea with those back home.

Stuart MacAlman, a Pharmacist Mate First Class aboard the submarine USS Wahoo, married his sweetheart Muriel in June 1942 before being shipped off to sea, serving several combat patrols on the submarine. His love and dedication for his wife flew off the pages of his letters written to her:

“Darling, I hardly knew what to say in this letter, except that, already, I miss you more than words can tell darling, I hope and pray that we may be together again real soon and we have our own little place where our life is our own and we can really start our lives together.”

In another correspondence to her, MacAlman wrote: “Last night I went through my scrapbook… I am happy and proud that you are my wife. I have never known anyone as wonderful, and my life has never been more pleasant than the hours spent with you. Sweet, you mean an awful lot to me… I wish that you were here with me now.”

For those who enlisted in the “silent service” in World War II, the men and their families knew the chances of not surviving these dangerous missions were high, with one out of every five submariners perishing in combat. Some Navy submariners after the war made it back from combat to reunite with their wives and children.

Others such as MacAlman, tragically, never came home.

On the Wahoo’s seventh and final patrol, the submarine was attacked and sunk by Japanese forces in waters between Russia and Japan and was never heard from again. MacAlman and his crewmates were presumed lost in October 1943.

MacAlman’s wife received the worst correspondence possible for a military spouse when a telegram arrived one that declared her husband was missing in action: “The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your husband Stuart Emerson MacAlman Pharmacists Mate First Class is missing following action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country.”

In another section of the museum is a photo of the USS Grunion submarine crew and wives at the commissioning party in April 1942.

In June of that year, the Grunion left Pearl Harbor on her first and only war patrol and was never seen or heard from again. After fruitless searches, the Grunion was assumed lost with all hands.

Only four months after the photo was taken, the young women were all widows…

Celebrating the 81st Anniversary of the Bowfin Commissioning

The Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association held its annual meeting and reception on Wednesday, May 1st on the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum campus to commemorate the commissioning of the USS Bowfin and to honor all U.S. submariners who served our country.

Mahalo to Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s chief of staff Andy Sugg, and Honolulu Community College chancellor Karen Lee for attending the event. And a big thank you to our museum board of directors, association members, and the entire crew who have been instrumental over the years in preserving our living piece of history, the Bowfin.

Recent Field Trips to the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum

This past month, we’ve had several school and youth groups visit our submarine museum the past month, including Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i and STEM class students from Aiea Intermediate.

With school soon wrapping up for the summer break, consider bringing your family down to our Pearl Harbor museum. Our museum offers tailored tours for children of all ages, focusing on both STEM and history. We also provide on-site, hands-on activities and science experiments led by our educators upon request.

Memorial Day Ceremony at Pearl Harbor Submarine Base

The annual Memorial Day ceremony held May 27 at the Pearl Harbor Submarine Base honored those who gave their lives while serving in combat. This includes the 52 submarines and 3,500 U.S. Navy personnel lost during World War II. Our nation extends its gratitude to all who remain on eternal patrol.