Letters from submarine commanders

Author

Haskins, E. D'H. (Enrique)

Date

• August 19, 1947-August 20, 1947

Summary

• Two one-page letters written in August 1947 by former commanding officers of submarines built in Manitowoc during World War II commend the quality of the Manitowoc-built boats and the hospitality of the community. At least eighteen such letters were received during the city's "Shipbuilding and Malting Centennial," a ten-day observance of the 100th anniversary of shipbuilding and malting in Manitowoc. In a keynote address at the final event of the centennial--a Navy Day ceremony at the Courthouse on August 24, 1947--Captain Merrill Comstock, representing the Secretary of the Navy, quoted from several of the letters as he paid tribute to Manitowoc's contribution to the war effort. The two examples presented here were written by Enrique D'H. Haskins, first commanding officer of the U.S.S. "Guitarro", which was launched at the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company September 26, 1943, and Royal L. Rutter, first commanding officer of the U.S.S. "Kete", which was launched April 9, 1944.