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Chase County Kansas Obituaries
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Bell, Frederick Richard (Dick) Frederick Richard (Dick) Bell, Torpedoman's Mate Second Class, who was reported missing an action March 25, 1944, on the Submarine U.S.S. Grayback, has been listed as dead, his parents, Mr. &
Mrs. Fred Bell were notified January 25, 1946.
"Dick" graduated from the Elmdale, Kansas High School in 1940 and enlisted in the Navy on September 3, 1941. He received his "boot training" at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and graduated with honors from the Service School there in March 1942.
After volunteering for Submarine Service, he was sent to the Naval Base in New London, Connecticut. In July 1942, he reported for duty in the Pacific and was assigned to the U.S.S. Grayback. At that time the Japanese controlled the Pacific so the Submarine Base was at Brisbane, Australia.
In June 1943 the U.S.S. Grayback returned to San Fransisco for repairs as the ship had been damaged by the enemy. Dick was given a 30 day leave at home in Elmdale. During that time he was married
to Ruth Graves whom he had met at New London.
Later the Submarine Base was moved to Midway Island. The Grayback left there on January 28 for what was to be their last patrol. They were dispatched to the East China Sea, where several Japanese
ships were sunk by torpedos. Then on February 27, with her two last torpedos, she sank her last ship and was ordered to return to Base.
Grayback was expected at Midway on March 7. She did not come home, and in April was reported "Missing in action.�
After the war it was found in Japanese records: "On February 27, an attacking aircraft made a direct hit on a Submarine which sank immediately. The water heaved and quieted, a dark well of oil welled up to the surface marking the place where the submarine went down."
Grayback was gone, but when the final count was in, her name was still "up there" among those of the high scoring leaders.
Dick was survived by his widow and a son, Todd Richard Bell, born March 28, 1944, his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Bell, and two brothers, Walter A. Bell and Howard R. Bell.
This information was taken from a book titled, "Submarine Operations in World War II by Theodore Roscoe.
Published by the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland. CC1949
by your Chase County Host, Lorna Marvin.
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