European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 08, 1963, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stapes daily Magazine the sub that attacked Liv Ornia by Robert Eunson a staff Walt try he senior of car at the Only Imperial Navy tub Marine to tikk the a Mainland Din inn world War ii a Pihis Anane a crewmen weren t any Dlf Frant than Youni men of any nation or generation during a bold Vanault. We were  recalled  Nambu. We ired 20 Shelli Ai Ait Ai we  then the Square Jawed Nambu Bald the Crow of the 117 of the sixth japanese submarine Fleet performed that a never known to Sallon everywhere let s get the hell out of  but before the tit left California Waters it torpedoed two merchant ships in the Vicinity of san Francisco the Captain Bald. Nambu now 92 Yean old. Is vice presi Dent of the japanese naval Academy for chief of staff training. Tall for a japanese Nambu keeps himself in splendid physical condition and enjoys talking. His Coal Black hair was marked with speckles of Gray which match with the dignity of the fourfold stripes on Hla sleeves. Although the attack on the Beach occurred at dusk feb. 23, 194% the Saga of the 117 and her Crew of 70 actually began feb. 1 that year japanese time Nambu add in he first interview with an Ameri can correspondent planes from an american task Force bombed Kwa Jallen in the Marshall islands Nambu recall. We were ordered to Charethe american ships. After taking on fuel at Kwa Jallen. We pursued the . Force for e. Week passing the Southern tip of Hawaii feb. 8th. We kept on moving in the directional the United Stales. Ortalda of san Diego Harbor we upped Periscope but could find no merchant or warship within Range so we began moving  recalled that the following Day they received n radio message from the commander of the submarine Fleet or Dering the 117 and two or three other subs to attack either a Highway or a factory to distract american warships tothe  one plan was to bombard san  Nambu said lifting a cup of Lea to Hli lips. We looked around for a logical place bul could t find anywhere we could s Lin close enough to make any damage with our  the 117 packed one gun which fired shells comparable to the american five Inch howitzers. No one aboard the sub. Including . Cup turn Kelzo a Lilno who died five Ernnt Dro had Ever seen Californi before. Their nov Gatlon was entirely by maps and charts. After deciding against shooting Over Thelong stretch of Bay into the City by the Golden Gate the 117 went out to sea and came Back in again just North of Santa Barbara at a place called Ellwood locate Don . Highway 101, the Southern Pacific Railroad line and site of an Oil Fielland bulk Plant. As the Sun set on that sunday feb. 23, Back in Washington d.c., president Frank Lin d. Roosevelt was beginning a Forf tilde Chat. The purpose of the president s Mes Sage was to warn his countrymen that . Coastal defences were highly inadequate. Little did Roosevelt know that hardly had he said my friends when the Periscope of his Imperial majesty s sub Marine the 117, poked through the cold Pacific just outside the kelp Beds at Ell Wood. Calif. The sub was within a baseball throw of the Oil derricks and the Highway overpass above the Railroad the Santa Barbar news press reported. As soon As the submarine surfaced five crewmen and a gunnery officer rushed onto the . Nash no took the Bridge and the bombardment started Nambu recalls. Senior officer Nambu a lieutenant Nob Klyo Nof flav in 1942 photo Boord o Japan Imperial Navy Captain Nambu Point to ipod in Calif. Coat at Ellwood shelled by Hli us. Saturday june 8, 1963 then wus in can inc of torn tales sweating it out below decks. When our Kun began to fire Nambu said i could Hoar cum braking o Stop then sirens followed. I could t resist any longer. I left my station and climbed up the Hatch to have a look outside. There teemed to be a great Deal of confusion especially on the Hli Hwy but Down near the town red lights were blink ing probably police can or ambulances racing our Way. As soon As our 30 shells were fired it took to bout three minutes the men came Back Down the Hatch and we sub merged. We could see air planes coming from somewhere in the South so we dropped a Periscope made of Bamboo that would float in our Wake and give the air planes a  Nambu could t hold Back a sly smile when he recoiled the fake Periscope. The Santa Barbara news press reported that Only one Oil Derrick was damaged despite the close Range. Nambu said it was his understanding hat their Job was to get the shells fired in such a manner As to prove they could strike a target on american Noil. The Crew of the 384-foot  never knew uie reaction ii caused because we did t know the president was be ginning fits radio Tuk to the people at the same  five Days later stalking american shipping about 35 Miles South of san fran Cisco the lit poured two torpedoes into a merchant vessel of about the 7,000-Tonclass. Nambu estimated. He thought they Sank it but he was t sure. When a surfaced the gun Crew opened fire on us and Hud to submerge  said. The next Day 45 Miles off Cape men no the 117 found a 5,000-ton merchant ship in its Periscope and scored a direct he with one torpedo Nambu  am sure we Sank that  his Eye narrowed m if he were looking again through his lights. The torpedo vent straight u a Crow  117 returned to Yokosuka Japan and Nambu was Given his own submarine to command. In August 1942, american planet bombed the water off new Caledonia where the117 and its new Crew and skipper Wen prowling. It was forced to surface an then bombed again. There vere few survivors Nambu Mfd. Seven months later. Sept 9 and sept.29. Japanese planes fired at United Chatea targets but the 117 caused the . Married and the father of three boy Sand one girl Nambu sits in his office atop a Hill overlooking Tokyo today. It u the same building where the War crimes Truls were held and later known a peril Ling Heights u became Headquarters for Gen Mark Clark commander of unite nations forces at the conclusion of the korean  could sit in his office and dream of the past especially that night 31 Yeara ago off Elwood. Somehow he does t give the impression he is the dreaming  straight Flat of stomach and Sharp of mind be i raves More the feeling with visitors that he might walk a Bridge on Day should the Imperial Fleet sail again a a major naval Power. The stars and stripes