US WWII Navy Issue Dogtag, USS Jenks, Capture of U-505
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $250.00

Original era manufacture. Single, Navy pattern dogtag with a sterling silverSt.Christopher medal, USN marked on the reverse. Issued to Robert James Roberts, 864-09-61 USNR,Tetanus inoculation 8/43.Ancestry research providesa Muster Roll listing for this sailor aboard the USS Jenks (DE-665) from 1 March 1944, until31 March 1945.On June 4th 1944 the USS Jenks formed part of a U-BoatHunter-Killer Group (Task Group 22.3)in the Atlantic, when the German submarineU-505 was forced to the surface byaircraft from the USS Guadalcanal and depth charges from the USS Chatelain.Once on the surface, the U-Boat crew quickly abandoned their stricken sub,leaving the scuttling efforts incomplete and the engines running. Boarding parties were orderedto the sub by Captain Gallery of the USS Guadalcanal; with a boat from the USS Jenks ordered away to recover important documents from the conning tower and any survivorsin the water. The boat from the Jenks picked up the second in command, Oberleutnant Meyer and two other German sailors in the water. Returning to the Jenks the German prisoners were brought aboard along with a large amount of documents and other paperwork found in the conning tower of the U-505.US sailors from other shipsaboard the U-505 were able to stop the flooding and secure the vessel from sinking. A cable was attached from the Guadalcanal to the submarine andit was successfully towed to Bermuda, where under the utmost secrecy the crew and sub were retained until the end of WWII.The boarding and capture of the U-505was the first incident of the capture of an enemy vessel on the high seas since the War of 1812. The U-505 still exists, and can be seen at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Dogtags are an interesting collectible. Long overlooked and undervalued, now with the advent of the internet, some research opportunities exist, particularly with the US Navy and US Marine Corps. Unlike campaign medals which were awarded after the fact, and in most cases are not named; Dogtags were quite often worn by the individual at the time the historical event took place. A tangible reminder of the event, and the sacrifices made for country and flag. Copies of the Muster Listings for Roberts aboard the USS Jenks, and copies of the official accountby the Captain of the Jenks during this incident are included.