Rescued at Sea

Burlington resident and veteran, Joe Arena, was rescued on June 20, 1945, his 23rd birthday, by the submarine USS Seafox after spending 21 hours in the ocean.

On June 20, 2003, Burlington resident, Joe Arena will turn 81 years of age.  On June 20, 1945, Joe, and nine other crewmates who bailed out of a crippled B-24 over the Pacific Ocean, was rescued by an American submarine that traveled 200 miles out of its way and through restricted waters to rescue them.  

Joe turned 23 years of age that day, and Joe says it was the best birthday present ever.  Joe recounts his story with Bob Hogan, Burlington’s Director of Veterans Services on a BCAT program.  They discuss Joe’s story, while showing a 9-minute video that Hogan obtained recently, showing the submarine crew rescuing Joe and the others.  The half hour show will be running on BCAT over the next few weeks.  

The program talks about June 19, 1945, the day they were on their fourth combat mission over Marcus Island and were hit, destroying two of the four engines and damaging other parts of the plane.  The decision to bail out, the 21 hours bobbing in the Pacific Ocean in the cold of night and in the hot sun of day, the terrible loss of a Cambridge friend that night, and the rescue were all discussed prior to showing the nine-minute video from the Victory at Sea series.  

One other crewmate is still alive and living in Florida, and several members of the USS Seafox, the submarine that saved the downed crew, have been in touch with Hogan, and he will be putting them and Joe in touch with each other.  

The events that led to obtaining the video and taping the BCAT show began when Joe asked Bob Hogan to help correct a mistake in his military personnel file.  His records do not show that he had bailed out of the crippled B-24, spent 21 hours in the ocean and was rescued by the submarine, spending two weeks aboard.  Bob began doing the research, which led him to crewmembers of the Seafox, to his crewmate, and confirmation that the story is absolutely true.  Hogan is now working with the Department of Defense and the National Personnel Records in St. Louis to correct the error of omission.

Both Bob and Joe hope that people check the schedule and watch the BCAT program and see the very special video that is 58 years old and shows a very young man receiving a wonderful birthday present.  

 Burlington's Director of Veterans' Services, Bob Hogan with Joe Arena

On June 20, 2003, Burlington resident, and Burlington Housing Authority Commissioner, Joe Arena turned 81 years of age.   On June 20, 1945, Joe, and nine other crewmates who bailed out of a crippled B-24 over the Pacific Ocean, was rescued by an American submarine that traveled 200 miles out of its way and through restricted waters to rescue them.   Joe turned 23 years of age that day, and says it was the best birthday present ever. 

A very special birthday was held for Joe, with friends and family, on June 19, 2003, 58 years later.

The short nine-minute video clip from the Victory at Sea series was shown at the birthday party. 

One other crewmate One member of the downed aircraft is still alive and living and Florida, and several members of the USS Seafox, the submarine that saved the downed crew, have been in touch with Hogan, and Bob will be putting them and Joe in touch with each other. 

If veterans have any questions about this topic, or any issue, they can contact the Burlington Office of Veterans Services at 781 270-1960.