Obituary: Donald Pepin witnessed first U.S. shots of WWII

Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
Updated: September 3, 2012 - 7:00 PM

13
Comments

Newest first
Oldest first

1 - 10 of 13
1
2
next

dorkeemnSep. 3, 12 7:36 PM

RIP Mr. Pepin - You indeed were part of the greatest generation.

JohnG1Sep. 3, 12 7:47 PM

Mr. Pepin, thank you for your service to our country. Rest in peace.

jeffthompsonSep. 3, 12 7:49 PM

A true hero.

smccuskey1Sep. 3, 12 8:00 PM

A big thank you to Don and his buddies for their service. RIP sailor!

beepSep. 3, 12 8:37 PM

One more humble, reluctant hero passes from our midst. And we are all the poorer for his passing, but richer for the fact that he was here.

davehougSep. 3, 1210:35 PM

The Ward's crew wasted no time. The second torpedo it fired punctured the tiny vessel. - - - They did not fire torpedos. They fired the gun on the Capitol grounds. The midget sub was reported up the ranks but the report wasn't believed or acted upon :(

alanam8Sep. 4, 12 4:29 AM

Respect is due. RIP.

hasdogsSep. 4, 1210:26 AM

davehoug - actually they fired both. The 50 cal' was the first shot fired but the crew (by their own reports) also fired two torpedos. Whether or not either torpedo struck the sub' is still debated today.

davehougSep. 4, 1211:33 AM

hasdogs: Didn't know about the .50 Cal but that makes sense. I recall (perhaps wrongly) they fired a shell at the base of the conning tower and when midget sub was found & surfaced it had a hole in the tower just like had been claimed all those years (went straight thru). A torpedo hit on a midget sub would have blown the whole thing to smithereens. Others out there must have better info than me. Details please.