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Remembering World War II
Jerry Louis Thibeault
Name: Jerry Louis Thibeault Service Number: 201 93 69 Rank/Rate: Torpedoman's Mate, Third Class Service: USS Capelin (SS-289), U.S. Submarine Force Date of Birth: July 18, 1921 Place of Birth: Port Maitland, Yarmouth Co., NS Enlistment: Boston, Mass. US Martial Status: Single Date of Death: December 2, 1943 Age at Death: 22 Memorial: National Submarine Memorial (Seal Beach, California) US Jerry Louis Thibeault was the son of John Nicolas Thibeault (b. 1892) and Mary Emerise (Le Blanc) Thibeault (1892-1978). His father was born in Port Maitland, his mother in Meteghan River, Digby Co., NS. He was the brother of Louis John Thibeault (1917-1958), George Thibeault (1924-2001), Ethel (Thibeault) Leblanc (1912-2001), and Ada "Ida" Mary Thibeault (1915-2006). Louis John Thibeault also served with the US Navy during WWII. Jerry Louis Thibeault left Canada in 1927. The family was then living in Chelsea, Masssachusetts. He joined the United States Submarine Force and served on the USS Capelin (SS-289) during WWII. Capelin sailed from New London, Connecticut, on 3 September 1943, bound for Brisbane, Australia, and duty with Submarine Force, Southwest Pacific. Her first war patrol, conducted in the Molucca Sea, Flores Sea, and Banda Sea between 30 October and 15 November, found her sinking a 3127-ton Japanese cargo ship on 11 November off Ambon Island. The second war patrol began 17 November 1943, in the Molucca Sea and Celebes Sea, and was to pay particular attention to Kaoe Bay, Morotai Strait, Davao Gulf, and trade routes in the vicinity of Siaoe Island, Sangi Island, Talaud Islands and Sarangani Island. The last known communication with the Capelin was on December 2, 1943. The submarine may have been lost because of a mine explosion. Gone without a trace, with all her crew, Capelin remains in the list of ships lost without a known cause.
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