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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tracy Ellig

This individual is no longer an employee with The Spokesman-Review.

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Sailor’s son pursues long-submerged truth

The sea is calm and the sky clear the night Alex Schenck dies aboard the SS John Straub in the waters off Alaska. He stands on the bridge of the ship, waiting to be relieved. It is shortly before midnight, April 18, 1944. The next man on watch arrives. Schenck leaves, probably for bed or maybe to watch a poker game. Darkness, cold and chaos are about to engulf him.