USS Harder (SS-257)

There is no homecoming story for USS Harder (SS-257). This Gato-class submarine was lost during operations in the Western Pacific, and her crew never returned. Lost August 24, 1944, depth charged by a Japanese minesweeper off Luzon. All 79 crew perished. Under CDR Sam Dealey, she sank five Japanese destroyers in consecutive engagements. Dealey received the Medal of Honor posthumously. The USS Harder collection is built for people who understand what it meant to go to sea in a fleet boat during the Pacific war. Her crew's sacrifice deserves to be remembered, and this merchandise keeps their story visible.