BRIDGE RICE ROWELL JR.
Seaman Second Class · Plankowner, USS Silversides (SS-236)
| Born / Died | 24 Nov 1923, Arlington, MA / 30 Apr 1985 |
| Service no. | 201-95-63 |
| Commissioning rate | Sea2c (15 Dec 1941) |
| Silversides tenure | 15 Dec 1941 – 25 Sep 1942 |
| Patrols aboard | 2 (9 ships credited, 40,877 t) |
| Rate on leaving Silversides | F3c |
| Other vessels | S-40 (SS-145) |
| Service | BIRLS: 12 Jul 1952 – 11 Jan 1960 (omits WWII) |
Prewar (1923–1941)
Bridge Rowell Jr. was born in Arlington, Massachusetts, on 24 November 1923. The 1940 census finds the family in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, in an owned $6,000 home. His father Bridge Sr. (41) owned and operated gas tanks, and Bridge Jr. (16) lived there with his mother Olive (38) and his sister Roslyn (8). He was eighteen when Silversides was commissioned.
On Silversides (Dec 1941 – Sep 1942)
Rowell commissioned aboard *Silversides* on 15 December 1941 as Seaman Second Class and made her first two war patrols under C.C. Burlingame. On 25 September 1942 he was advanced to F3c and transferred to CSD 102.
| Patrol | Dates | CO | Credited sunk | Credited damaged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 Apr – 21 Jun 1942 | Burlingame | 5 (25,627 t)¹ | 1 (10,100 t) |
| 2 | 15 Jul – 8 Sep 1942 | Burlingame | 4 (15,250 t) | 2 (5,750 t) |
| Total | 9 (40,877 t) | 3 (15,850 t) |
¹ Tonnage as credited in endorsements. Patrol 1 includes a submarine credit that was likely a log or other debris.
Later War (1943–1945)
He transferred to S-40 on 10 March 1943, was advanced to F2c on 1 October 1943 and to MoMM2c(T) on 5 February 1945.
Postwar (1945–1985)
BIRLS omits his World War II service and records 12 July 1952 to 11 January 1960. The 1950 census finds him in San Diego at 2706 Chesterton Drive, listed in the Armed Forces, with his wife Mary (21), their son Bridge R. (4) and an infant son, Steven, born in April 1949. His headstone lists Korea and Vietnam but not World War II, and gives his rate as EN2, US Navy. He died on 30 April 1985.
Research Notes
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WWII service: missing from BIRLS and from the headstone. The musters supply it.
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Service gap: BIRLS starts in 1952, but the 1950 census lists him in the Armed Forces. This may reflect reserve or fleet reserve duty.
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Name: “Rice” comes from the Find a Grave memorial.
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1940 census: “owner/operator of gas tanks” is as transcribed.
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Source notes (carried over, verbatim):
1940 Census Bridge Rowell (41) and Olive (38). Bridge Jr (16) and Roslyn (8). Bridge Sr was an owner/operator of gas tanks. They lived in a $6000 owned home.
1950 Census Bridge R. Rowell (26) and Mary L (21). Bridge R. (4) and Steven W (Apr 49). Bridge was listedas in the Armed forces. Living at 2706 Chesterton Dr.
Born in Arlington, MA. Headstone does not have WWII, only lists Korea and Vietnam. EN2 US Navy.
Transferred to S-40 on 10 Mar 1943. Advanced to F2c 1OCT43. MoMM2c(T) on 5FEB45.
Sources: 1940 and 1950 census; BIRLS; Find a Grave; Silversides muster and ROC; Silversides patrol indexes 1–2.