It is with great sorrow and deep personal sadness that I report that Ritterkreuzträger SIEGFRIED KOITSCHKA (225-1986) began his 'Eternal Patrol' on 17 May this year. He had been I.W.O. on U-552 under ERICH TOPP (118-LIFE-1985), and it was actually Koitschka who fired the torpedo that sank the American destroyer USS REUBEN JAMES more than a month before the United States was in the war. 

It was a great error, as Topp thought the "RUBE" was one of the fifty old four-pipers given to the British.  Koitschka later took command of U-616 where he made many successful Feindfahrten (war patrols) and was decorated with the Knights Cross.

I have been a guest in the Koitschka home on many occasions and there was always laughter and a close family type of atmosphere. Siegfried was always joking, and Mrs. Koitschka, a sweet and wonderful lady, always laughed at his jokes - no matter what..... 

His former enemies had great respect for him too, as he was always the guest of honor at the annual reunions of the veterans of USS ELLYSON and USS RODMAN and several of the other US Navy ships that sank his U-616 to the northeast of Oran on 14 May 1944. He always joked that the "Little Bastard Devil" conning tower emblem on his U-616 was fathered by the famous dancing Red Devil on the tower of U-552 coupled with a prostitute from Toulon.  He had a great sense of humor and a quick smile.

After the war, he became a veterinarian.  Kapitänleutnant Siegfried Koitschka joined us on our "Patrol in Paradise" 2000 which was based in Daytona, Florida and visited such unique places as the US Navy Submarine Base Kings Bay where the USN Atlantic Fleet "boomer" boats are based, the Submarine Museum at St. Mary's, NAS JAX and Mayport where more of America's Atlantic Fleet is home ported. 

He was a fine man with a great many friends, and he will be deeply missed.  We know that all our SHARKHUNTERS Members wish fair winds and following seas for Captain Koitschka, and our condolences go sincerely to Mrs. Koitschka.