This history starts with information compiled by SUBNET from the Dictionary of American Fighting Ships, Navy Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History Division, Washington, D.C. and from U.S. Naval Submarine Force Information Book (1995) by J. Christley. More importantly, it draws on information provided in the “Irex File” at the Library & Archive Collections of the Submarine Force Museum, Groton. Most important of all, however, it derives from the recollections of the sailors who once proudly served aboard the Irex. These accounts to a significant extent parallel information in the “U.S.S. Irex (482) News”, a newsletter diligently published over the years by Ron Lisle, the late Wally “Russian” Krupenevich and now by Al Hahn.
Al maintains a roster of those who served on the Irex, and so if you are curious about your old shipmates, send a question his way.
Many Tench class boats such as the Irex were decommissioned and re-commissioned one or more times during their service, but not the Irex. For the final disposition of subs, see The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy, by John D. Alden.