Jacques 'Jack' Abels

Jacques 'Jack' Abels of La Qunita, California departed on eternal patrol on May 10, 2011. He was born on October 23, 1917 in Boston, Massatuchetts and was raised in Brookline, Massatuchetts. Jack joined the Navy on August 22, 1939 as an enlisted man. Shortly after the U.S. entry into World War II he was assigned to the USS Pelias (AS-14), a submarine tender, which he reported to on December 26, 1941. He served on Pelias as a Yeoman Third Class until August 20, 1942. He was then reassigned to Submarine Squadron SIX pending assignment to a submarine. Later in 1942 Jack was reassigned to the Tambor Class submarine USS Thresher (SS-200) where he made 3 War Patrols between 1942 and 1943 and left as a Yeoman First Class. In 1944 Jack received a commissioned and served on the USS Shad (SS-235) until the end of the war. He was discharged a Lieutenant senior grade shortly after the war ended. Jack was a proud Life Member of Submarine Veterans of World War II. He was also a dual member of United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. and was a member of Bonefish (Primary), LA-Pasadena, and Trieste bases. Jack served as Vice Chairman of the La Quinta Planning Commission, he was active in the Rotary Club of La Quinta, and the U.S. Navy League Palm Springs Council. Jack is survived by his wife Alyce Abels and two children, Judy Abels of Orangevale and Jerry Abels of Palm Desert; and one grandson. Biography by Bob Cox, webmaster