During the ceremonies more than 3,500 Americans including 129 other Iowans who also perished on submarines were remembered.

Charles Norman Langdon, John Joseph Marino and Charleton LeRoy Moore are “forever on eternal patrol.”

A bell was rung twice for each during a reading of all Iowans who died serving on submarines since 1901.

They represented Iowa communities large and small, urban and rural.

T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY A submarine veteran, third from left, tolls a bell two times in honor of the late submariner John Marino of Marshalltown, who perished May 20, 1939, on the USS Squalus, SS 192, off Portsmouth N.H. The bell was also tolled twice each for submariners Charles Norman Langdon and Harry Raymond Mann, both of Marshalltown, killed on submarines during World War II.

The event was in celebration of the opening of the Submariners Veterans Memorial Highway.

The highway begins on IVH’s western boundary on Summit Street, where it proceeds to the state capitol grounds in Des Moines, a length of 52.3 miles.

Submarine veteran David Farran, who helped spearhead the highway memorial effort, said 52 was symbolic.

“It equaled the number of submarines lost during World War II,” Farran said.

Dozens attended the event held in front of IVH’s Sheeler Administration Building.

In front of them, a giant American flag was hung from a Marshalltown Fire Department aerial truck.

Submarine veterans from chapters in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines attended in large numbers, as did IVH residents, staff, elected officials and law enforcement.

After the one-hour long ceremony concluded, attendees were invited to have lunch in the Bob Atha Dining Room at IVH and visit the Marino Memorial Submarine Library at IVH.

Marino, born in 1918, perished May 20, 1939 as a seaman second class on the USS Squalus, SS 192, near Portsmouth N. H.

He is buried in the local Riverside Cemetery initially with a small 6-inch by 8-inch marker.

On May 23, 2001, World War II submarine veterans replaced the small marker at Marino’s gravesite with a larger stone and a plaque with details about his death.

The Marino Library was dedicated at Oct. 1, 2005.

Charles Norman Langdon was a torpedo man’s mate first class.

He was killed Dec. 6, 1944 aboard the “Scamp” according to the History of Marshall County 1955, by Gerard Schultz.

Charleton LeRoy Moore, 18, was born in Lorimor, but from Marshalltown. He was a seaman first class who was lost at sea in the Pacific Ocean March 20, 1945 aboard the USS Kete, SS 369.

At 12:30 p.m. the submarine veterans were scheduled to depart IVH for Des Moines traveling the memorial highway to the state capitol grounds in Des Moines.

There, a special ceremony was scheduled to feature Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg laying a wreath with a submarine veteran at the S-36 Submarine Memorial.

The S-36 was lost Jan. 20, 1942 on her second patrol in Makassar Strait, Indonesia.

The monument is located on the south grounds of the State Capitol Building. The building is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturdays. The Capitol grounds are open from dawn to dusk.

Local resident and submarine veteran Richard Kennelley, spouse Connie Kennelley and other submarine veterans helped organize the event.

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Contact Mike Donahey

at 641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com