JUDE STACKPOLE (1334-+-1990) is on his ‘Eternal Patrol’, but we have a great deal of his work on hand and bring it to you here. He was working hard to determine if the TRITON U-Boat code was sold to the Allies by a traitor, rather than having it broken by Bletchley Park. Here he writes:

“The raising of U-534 could serve as training for raising of other boats. Sunken U-Boats are not rare; perhaps others will be raised.

As for the salvage of KOMSOMOLETS, the newest theory is that it does not constitute a menace in terms of nuclear pollution either as a consequence of the Plutonium in its torpedoes to the ocean or as a consequence of the deterioration and subsequent collapse of the reactor containment vessel. Therefore it now seems likely that salvage on this boat will be delayed if not canceled.”

HARRY’s NOTE - this letter was written a couple years ago and reflected information available at that time. The situation with KOMSOMOLETS has been looked at again and nuclear pollution is deemed a possibility. KOMSOMOLETS means ‘Young Communist’

“As for the article on (divers souvenir hunting on) the WILHELM GUSTLOFF - what can be said? Remember, it was a North Carolina dive shop that remains of the crew of U-85 were found on public display - and not all that long ago.”

HARRY’s NOTE - We were told that the dive shop was selling these bones! They were quickly put out of business!

“Not all the ‘bad guys’ were on the other side by a long shot, although it is anything but popular to mention this fact today. We are still hunting these people down (Germans) - regardless how far down the totem pole of responsibility they may have been, while at the same time the Japanese are confessing to all kinds of war crimes including the use of Allied personnel in human medical experiments and we are adopting the attitude ‘Isn’t that nice of them to admit it after all these years’.

There seems to be a mentality that on the one hand is determined that all the offenses against humanity in Europe will be expiated in full, in blood while whatever happened in the Far East and Asia is ‘just one of those things.’

My feeling is that if we are going to hold the Germans and their allies fully responsible after all these years, then we should deal with the Japanese on the same basis. If we are willing to let bygones be bygones with the one group, then it is only fair we do likewise with the others.

However, I am known for my strange views in such matters.”