William "Ma" D. Irvin

William D. Irvin, nicknamed “Ma,” served on board the submarine USS Growler (SSG-577) as a commissaryman first class, CS1, from November 11, 1961 to June 18, 1963, according to personnel reports held by the National Archives. A veteran of World War II, “Ma” was a memorable presence on board Growler. He is mentioned in oral histories, as well as the Peter Kochera diary, which also includes a photograph of him.

An oral history interview with Irvin is part of the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project. (Michael Irvin, his son, provided the Intrepid Museum with a DVD of the interview, which is not accessioned and is in file 2018.04). The interview primarily covers William Irvin’s World War II service, providing helpful information about the early part of his Navy career. He passed away in 2012.