John R. Stephens RM1 – October 7, 1943 – SS 155 That evening, off Paramushiru, SS 155 made radar contact with was thought to be a small merchant ship and surfaced to engage with her deck gun. The contact proved to be a Japanese Destroyer that immediately opened fire with all guns. Captain LTCDR F.E. Brown ordered “Take her Down” but the boat failed to dive. The Destroyer scored hits on the forward battery, another in the control room below the water line and a third in the conning tower. Eight men got off the sinking boat but only two were picked up by the Destroyer. John R. Stephens was from Craigmont, Idaho