When you leave the Civil Ware Memorial to get to stop #3, you will be walking on Merton Avenue, a road named after a lost Belfast submariner of World War II.
Lieutenant John Merton McMahon's submarine sunk to the depth of 3,300 feet near the entrance to Kiska Harbor in Alaska. His submarine (the USS Grunion, SS-216) was sunk by an armed Japanese freighter and McMahon was proclaimed to be on eternal patrol on July 30, 1942.
In 2006, a marine survey company took sonar images of wreckage and the U.S. Navy has since confirmed the wreckage to be the Grunion.
Lieutenant McMahn is memorialized at Tablets of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii. His decorations include: Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal. Rest in peace, Lieutenant. Belfast thanks you for your service.
