George Levick Street, III

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] George Levick Street, III (NSN: 0-78745), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. TIRANTE (SS-420) during the First War Patrol of that vessel against enemy Japanese surface forces in the harbor of Quelpart Island, off the coast of Korea, on 14 April 1945. With the crew at surface battle stations, Commander Street approached the hostile anchorage from the south within 1,200 yards of the coast to complete a reconnoitering circuit of the island. Leaving the 10-fathom curve far behind he penetrated the mined and shoal-obstructed waters of the restricted harbor despite numerous patrolling vessels and in defiance of five shore-based radar stations and menacing aircraft. Prepared to fight it out on the surface if attacked, Commander Street went into action, sending two torpedoes with deadly accuracy into a large Japanese ammunition ship and exploding the target in a mountainous and blinding glare of white flames. With the TIRANTE instantly spotted by the enemy as she stood out plainly in the flare of light, he ordered the torpedo data computer set up while retiring and fired his last two torpedoes to disintegrate in quick succession the leading frigate and a similar flanking vessel. Clearing the gutted harbor at emergency full speed ahead, he slipped undetected along the shoreline, diving deep as a pursuing patrol dropped a pattern of depth charges at the point of submergence. His illustrious record of combat achievement during the First War Patrol of the TIRANTE characterizes Commander Street as a daring and skilled leader and reflects the highest credit upon himself, his valiant command, and the United States Naval Service.

Action Date: April 14, 1945

Service: Navy

Rank: Commander

Company: Commanding Officer

Division: U.S.S. Tirante (SS-420)