OCTOBER 2, 2003 MEETING WITH TURK TURNER

Our October meeting was held at our usual meeting place, American Legion Post 186 in Midlothian, and was a dinner meeting with special guest speaker sub vet and former POW, Turk Turner.

We enjoyed a pot luck dinner and happy hour which preceded the meeting - with happy hour starting at 1830 and the meeting starting at 1930.

Our special guest speaker, Turk Turner, captured by the Japanese after the loss of the USS Perch, told of his experiences in three plus years as a POW in a Japanese camp and his subsequent walk out when they learned of the Japanese surrender.

Outline of Turk Turner's submarine service during WWII

Marion M. "Turk" Turner completed recruit training and electrical ordnance "A" school at San Diego, in March of 1940. He was transferred to submarine base, Hawaii and assigned to the electrical motor rewind shop. He made third class electrician with less than 13 months in the Navy.

In November 1940 he was transferred to the USS Sealion, SS195. He then departed for Manila, Philippines. In January 1941 he was transferred to the USS Perch SS176. He was aboard Perch when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Perch completed it's first war patrol in February 1942 and returned to Port Darwin, Australia. Perch's second patrol, that commenced in the middle of February, ended with her scuttling on 3 March 1942 in the middle of the Java Sea. The surviving crew were picked up by a Japanese destroyer and returned to Makassar, Celebes, East Dutch Indies for internment in a Japanese prison camp. Turk was a POW for 3 1/2 years.

We thanked Mr. Turner for the time that he shared with us and for the sacrifices he and his shipmates made for us. 

There were approximately 35 members and guests present. A special thank you to all who again served a beautiful buffet supper.

Meeting was adjourned at 2050 hours.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Welner Secretary