JIM SALTER, Associated Press

 

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Serving aboard an U.S. submarine was one of the most dangerous assignments in World War II, with nearly 1 in 5 crew members losing their lives.

A suburban St. Louis man is trying to ensure that those men — more than 3,600 sailors — are remembered by publishing a new book.

Paul Wittmer, a submarine veteran who turned 90 last week, spent eight years conducting research at the National Archives in St. Louis, which houses millions of military personnel records.

He compiled biographical information on every submariner lost during WWII. The effort culminated with a six-volume book he hopes to see in every state library.

Wittmer says the stories needed to be captured for history.