Lest We Forget

FCR published a remembrance last week (8-23-24, pg. B4) from Mr. George Gully of Fayetteville for his uncle, Yeoman First Class Daniel John Gully, who served aboard the submarine USS Harder in WWII. Daniel John Gully was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Emil Gully of Fayetteville.

According to U. S. Navy reports, after destroying 2 Japanese ships on Aug. 22, 1944 in the Battle of Dasol Bay in the Philippines and while pursuing other enemy vessels, the USS Harder was sunk on August 24th by Japanese depth charges. The Harder’s entire crew (79 men) was lost at sea.

On May 22, 2024, the Lost 52 Project announced that it had discovered the wreck of the Harder in the West Philippine Sea near the Philippines’ northern island of Luzon. The discovery was confirmed by the U.S. Navy based on video of the wreck. The Harder sits mostly intact and upright at a depth of 3,750 feet. A large hole on the port side just aft of the conning tower indicates Harder likely received a direct hit by a depth charge.

Lest We Forget.