Thomas Anthony Narrow Jr
Thomas Anthony Narrow Jr. was born 11- May 1921 in St. Louis Missouri. His father was Antonino Narrow (1866–1947) and his mother was Thelma Phillips Narrow (1904–1999). He had three brothers: Robert, William and Guy and two sisters: Janice and Joyce. The Federal Census states he had completed elementary school, 8th grade. His occupation was “shoe cutter.” According to the Federal Census, the family lived at 3717 25th Street in St. Louis.
He enlisted 22-Dec 1941 in the Navy. He attended basic at the Training Center in San Diego California. By 31-Oct 1942 he was mustered aboard the USS Argronaut (SS-166)..
Seaman 1st Thomas Narrow served on the submarine USS Argronaut. His serial number was 6681577. He was Killed in Action on 10-Jan 1943 near Papua New Guinea. He was 21. He remains missing.
The Argonaut was sunk by surface attack and depth charges near Rabaul while operating in the area southeast of New Britain during her third patrol. Argonaut (Lieutenant Commander J.R. Pierce) intercepted a Japanese convoy returning to Rabaul from Lae, on 10-Jan 1943. A U.S. Army plane which was out of bombs saw one destroyer hit by a torpedo, saw the explosion of two other destroyers, and reported five other vessels in the group. After a severe depth charge attack, Argonaut was forced to surface and the destroyers, according to the plane’s report, circled and pumped shells into her bow, which was sticking up at a considerable angle. Further efforts to contact Argonaut by radio were fruitless. It is quite certain, then, that Argonaut met her end in this action. Japanese reports made available since the end of the war record a depth charge attack followed by artillery fire, at which time the “destroyed top of the sub floated.”
Based on the report given by the Army flier who witnessed the attack in which the Argonaut perished, this ship was credited with having damaged one Japanese destroyer on her last patrol. Thomas Anthony Narrow and the crew is memorialized at Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Seaman 1C Thomas Narrow was eligible for the following medals and commendations:
- Purple Heart
- World War II Victory Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- American Campaign Medal
- Navy Presidential Unit Citation
- Navy Good Conduct Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- Navy Expeditionary Medal
Five St. Louis men perished on the Argonaut. The Post-Dispatch reported on 16-JUN 1943 that the Argonaut “accepted destruction rather than surrender.” The article went on to say, the Navy Department “paid high tribute to the courage and self-sacrifice of the Argonaut men.”
The St. Louis men who perished on the Argonaut included:
- Motor Machinist Mate William Edward Vierling
- Seaman Thomas A. Narrow Jr.
- Torpedoman Fred Edsel Schempp
- William H. Myers Jr.
- Electrician Mate, Alfred John Raismas
Five other Missouri men also perished:
- Frank Howard Bowers
- Malcolm Marion Brooks
- Donald Henry Dischner
- Francis Marion Hogg
- Rau Hunter Hayti
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