8. The May Incident endangered American sailors
In early 1943, Kentucky Congressman Andrew J. May participated in a junket to examine the situation in the Pacific Theater. As Chairman of the House Committee on Military Affairs. May had access to classified information. Subsequent events revealed he paid greater attention to lining his pockets through war profiteering than protecting American interests. On his return from the junket, which covered several bases, May held a press conference. During a rosy presentation on the state of the submarine campaign, May informed the press that American submarines frequently evaded Japanese submarines. He also stated the reason. According to May, the Japanese set their charges at too shallow a depth, and he explained American submarines dove deeper than the Japanese thought possible.
May’s comments appeared in numerous newspapers nationally, including in Honolulu, where enraged American naval personnel read them. The Japanese began setting charges to greater depths. Admiral Lockwood wrote the revelation led to the loss of up to ten American submarines in 1943 and 1944. After the war, evidence surfaced that May had accepted bribes from defense contractors, as well as bribes of a personal nature related to draft deferments. He lost his seat in Congress, and eventually went to prison for nine months. He later received a Presidential pardon. According to Lockwood, who never overcame his rage in May, 800 American submariners were lost after the Congressman’s loose lips sank ships.