The Imperial Japanese submarine #I17 managed to wreak havoc on the west coast of the US by surfacing on #ThisDayInHistory in 1942 and firing its deck gun at some oil rigs near #SantaBarbara. It did little damage but scared the bejeezus out of Californians unused to war at home.

#ThisDayInHistory in 1941 almost prevented my existence. #SSEmidio, a #MerchantMarine tanker, was shelled & later torpedoed by Japanese submarine #I17, killing five crew. Remaining crew, my grandfather among them, escaped, and their ship wrecked & broke up off #CrescentCity, CA.