At Portland Head Light in Maine, a new plaque to commemorate the crew of the USS Eagle-56, the subject of my book, Due to Enemy Action
I was thrilled this Spring to visit Portland Head Lighthouse in Portland, Maine, and see a new monument plaque erected in honor of the crew of the USS Eagle-56, the last American warship to be sunk by a German u-boat in Atlantic waters during World War II (on April 23, 1945).
The sinking, the stories of the crew members (including the 49 killed and the “Lucky Thirteen” who survived), the Navy cover-up of the sinking, and the eventual (sixty years later) reversal of the incorrect record – which brought a measure of peace and justice to the men who survived and their families – is the subject of my book, Due To Enemy Action (published in 2005). The Eagle-56, which was docked at Portland Harbor, was sunk just four miles out to sea.
Naval historian and attorney Paul Lawton, who was instrumental in convincing the Navy to change its official record, provided me with rich and valuable research that made this book possible. The previous plaque (left in the picture below) outlined the story of the event. The plaque I’m behind lists every crew member – those who died and those who survived. It is a fitting tribute to these brave heroes! You can read about this amazing story and the book here.
It was a profound honor to meet, become friends with, and tell the stories of these good and honorable men.
