Patrick Zilliacus

World War II

Patrick Zilliacus is a World War II veteran born in May 1926 in Helsinki, Finland. He emigrated to the United States with his mother and brother in 1940, following his father, who served as the Finnish military attaché in Washington, D.C. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Zilliacus lied about his age to enlist in the U.S. Navy, eventually becoming a torpedoman aboard the submarine USS Spot (SS-413).

During his service in the Pacific, Zilliacus participated in dangerous submarine patrols, including sinking Japanese ships and surviving intense depth-charge attacks. He recalled narrowly escaping a ramming attempt by a Japanese minelayer near Iwo Jima and navigating through minefields in the Taiwan Strait.

Zilliacus later achieved the rank of lieutenant and became a U.S. citizen during his service. Now in his late 90s, he continues to share his story, emphasizing the importance of remembering the sacrifices of his generation and advocating for peace.

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