Travellin': USS Lagarto Found in the Gulf of Thailand

Early in 2005 two friends of mine, Jamie Macleod and Stewart Oehl, who own the technical dive boat M.V. Trident rediscovered an American submarine whose exact location had been unknown since it was sunk in World War II. The sub laid in 75 meters (225 feet) in the Gulf of Thailand. The USS Lagarto is believed to have been sunk during a daring convoy attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer HATSUTAKA, at 0010 on May 4, 1945.

Stuart and Jamie prepared a mission to document the wreck and submit photos and videos for positive identification. I had the pleasure of joining them as the photographer. I agreed to a secrecy agreement in May that stated we would all keep the informational and documentation to ourselves until a certain group released a documentary about the submarine. Now that a year has passed, I've been encouraged to share this with you.

Two grandchildren of one of the sailors, accompanied us on the mission. Their grandfather was one of 86 sailors that went down with the sub. Beth Kenny-Augustine and John Kenny are both from Chicago and allowed me the pleasure of visiting with them while out for the week. It was amazing to hear the effect that finding the sub had on the families. It provided closure for many of the wives and children and helped to bring them together after all these years. Before, the wreck was lost for all practical purposes to the sea.

The highlight of the trip was being able to bring physical images up from the bottom to show the grandchildren, who could not see it for themselves. The sub has been down for a long time, and the sea has taken it over. There is a continuation of life there as corals have found a home among the structure. It is at the same time a melancholy war grave memorial, and a beautiful thing teeming with life.