Reinhard Hardegen passes away at 105...

[BradG]

Hardegen was the last surviving U boat captain of WW2. He sunk 22 ships for 115,000 tons of shipping, damaging 5 more ships for 46,000 tons. He participated in Operation Drumbeat, the U boat attack on America, leading two patrols into American waters. Hardegen was no Nazi, often disobeying orders to the contrary, picking up survivors or suppling life rafts with food, water and directions to land. He was technically medically unfit for U boat service having being seriously injured in a plane crash in the 1930's, but he continued to serve until Donitz found out, limiting his career and probably saving his life as he was desk bound during 1943 and '44, when the U boat's took heavy casualties.

He would go on to build a successful oil trading company and serve as a well respected politician after the war. He remained in good health into his later years, still driving a car and flying a plane at 100. He passed away June 9th.

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