JOSEPH R. DEFREES, JR., LT, USN
Joseph Defrees, Jr. '42
Lucky Bag
From the 1942 Lucky Bag:
JOSEPH ROLLIE DEFREES, JR.
Washington, D.C.
Joe, Deefy, Punkin
Though "all me bloomin' life, sir" is the traditional answer, in Joe's case it's true. With a lengthy navy background, he has a weather eve cast to continue the family tradition. In particular, Joe has a way with the fairer sex, a way which neither we nor they can quite understand. His ease with the academics as well, makes for a prediction of more than a small measure of success in the Service.
Football 4, 3, Manager; Battalion Soccer; Lacrosse 4; Battalion Lacrosse; Boat Club 4, 3, 2, Ketch Captain 1; 2 Stripes.
The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.
JOSEPH ROLLIE DEFREES, JR.
Washington, D.C.
Joe, Deefy, Punkin
Though "all me bloomin' life, sir" is the traditional answer, in Joe's case it's true. With a lengthy navy background, he has a weather eve cast to continue the family tradition. In particular, Joe has a way with the fairer sex, a way which neither we nor they can quite understand. His ease with the academics as well, makes for a prediction of more than a small measure of success in the Service.
Football 4, 3, Manager; Battalion Soccer; Lacrosse 4; Battalion Lacrosse; Boat Club 4, 3, 2, Ketch Captain 1; 2 Stripes.
The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.
Loss
Joseph was killed by a shell from a Japanese destroyer that struck USS Sculpin (SS 191) shortly before she was sunk on November 19, 1943.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Joseph was born in Rhode Island. In 1930, his family lived in Newport, Rhode Island. Mother was Bernice; sister Helen. In 1937, he listed his home address as USS Bushnell, San Diego, California.
Joseph was at the periscope of his submarine when the first photograph was taken of a sinking Japanese destroyer after a torpedo had struck, and wore the submarine combat medal with three stars for four successful combat patrols. He was credited with sinking thousands of tons of Japanese combat craft.
From The Journal Times (Racine, Wisconsin), on September 18, 1942:
LOS ANGELES, SEPT. 18. An American submarine spent so much time in sight of the Japanese coast while sinking enemy ships that the crew considered taking shore leave, Ensign Joseph R. DeFrees, Jr., said today.
“We saw the mainland of Japan lots of times,” said DeFrees, son of Rear Admiral Joseph R. DeFrees, inspector of naval material for this district. “We even imagined that we could distinguish Asahi beer signs among the lights and the crew joked about taking liberty in Yokohama.”
Sank Destroyer.
DeFrees, en route to the navy torpedo school at New London, Conn., told how his submarine attacked an enemy aircraft carrier, sank a destroyer, and a number of merchant ships during a two-month cruise.
During the battle of Midway, he said, they closed in on the carrier while a battleship fired broadsides at the sub.
“We managed to stick three torpedoes into the flat-top, then they started dropping ash cans and we had to dive to save our boat,” he said.
In another attack they put two torpedoes into a destroyer.
Blew Ship Up.
“We had knocked off a number of Jap merchantmen right off their own coast, and this destroyer was looking for us,” DeFrees explained. "Our first torpedo hit him amidships and blew him up.”
He told of a narrow escape when the sub unintentionally surfaced in the middle of a convoy after sinking a large merchantman.
“We saw a cruiser heading right for us, but dived deep in time, thanks to fine work by our crew,” DeFrees said.
Joseph's mother was sponsor of Sculpin, which had been commissioned before the war. His father retired as a Rear Admiral.
Joseph is remembered at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.
Photographs
From the Lucky Bag
From The Eagle on September 22, 1942
Silver Star
From Hall of Valor:
SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Joseph R. Defrees, Jr. (NSN: 0-123693), United States Navy, was awarded the Silver Star (Posthumously) for gallantry in action while serving aboard the United States Submarine U.S.S. SCULPIN (SS-191) during war patrols in enemy-controlled waters during World War II. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: American Battle Monuments Commission
Action Date: World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Sculpin (SS-191)
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