Free Republic

In the early hours of May 6, General Motors TBM Avengers and Grumman F4F Wildcats with Composite Squadron Fifty-Five (VC-55), aboard the USS Block Island (CVE-21), reported sighting a U-boat roughly 390 miles west of Cape Verdes. Buckley followed up on this and began following the German vessel. At 2:16 AM, an Avenger picked up a radar contact about 20 miles from the ship. Buckley, under the command of Lt. Cmdr. Brent Abel, ordered the destroyer escort to turn toward the contact. She sailed at full speed toward the U-boat, all the time being given updates on course changes from...

Dear Lord, There's a young man far from home, called to serve his nation in time of war; sent to defend our freedom on some distant foreign shore. We pray You keep him safe, we pray You keep him strong, we pray You send him safely home ... for he's been away so long. There's a young woman far from home, serving her nation with pride. Her step is strong, her step is sure, there is courage in every stride. We pray You keep her safe, we pray You keep her strong, we pray You send her safely home...

Dear Lord, There's a young man far from home, called to serve his nation in time of war; sent to defend our freedom on some distant foreign shore. We pray You keep him safe, we pray You keep him strong, we pray You send him safely home ... for he's been away so long. There's a young woman far from home, serving her nation with pride. Her step is strong, her step is sure, there is courage in every stride. We pray You keep her safe, we pray You keep her strong, we pray You send her safely home...