Follow Us
Like Us
Historical records matching Rear Admiral Richard O'Kane (USN)
view all
Immediate Family
-
-
Privatechild -
father -
mother -
Privatesibling
-
Privatesibling
-
Privatesibling
About Rear Admiral Richard O'Kane (USN)
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rokane.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_O%27Kane
Rear Admiral Richard Hetherington “Dick” O'Kane (February 2, 1911 – February 16, 1994) was a United States Navy submarine commander in World War II, who received a Medal of Honor for his service on the Tang. He also served on the Wahoo, as executive officer and approach officer. He participated in more successful attacks on Japanese shipping than any other submarine officer during the war.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Commander, United States Navy, commanding U.S.S. Tang.
Place and date: Vicinity Philippine Islands, October 23, and October 24, 1944.
Entered service at: New Hampshire.
Born: February 2, 1911, Dover, N.H.
Citation:
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. Tang operating against 2 enemy Japanese convoys on 23 October and 24 October 1944, during her fifth and last war patrol. Boldly maneuvering on the surface into the midst of a heavily escorted convoy, CMDR O'Kane stood in the fusillade of bullets and shells from all directions to launch smashing hits on 3 tankers, coolly swung his ship to fire at a freighter and, in a split-second decision, shot out of the path of an onrushing transport, missing it by inches. Boxed in by blazing tankers, a freighter, transport, and several destroyers, he blasted 2 of the targets with his remaining torpedoes and, with pyrotechnics bursting on all sides, cleared the area. Twenty-four hours later, he again made contact with a heavily escorted convoy steaming to support the Leyte campaign with reinforcements and supplies and with crated planes piled high on each unit. In defiance of the enemy's relentless fire, he closed the concentration of ship and in quick succession sent 2 torpedoes each into the first and second transports and an adjacent tanker, finding his mark with each torpedo in a series of violent explosions at less than 1,000-yard range. With ships bearing down from all sides, he charged the enemy at high speed, exploding the tanker in a burst of flame, smashing the transport dead in the water, and blasting the destroyer with a mighty roar which rocked the Tang from stem to stern. Expending his last 2 torpedoes into the remnants of a once powerful convoy before his own ship went down, Comdr. O'Kane, aided by his gallant command, achieved an illustrious record of heroism in combat, enhancing the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
view all
Rear Admiral Richard O'Kane (USN)'s Timeline
| 1911 |
February 2, 1911
|
Dove, New Hampshire
|
|
| 1994 |
February 16, 1994
Age 83
|
Petaluma
|
|
|
February 25, 1994
Age 83
|
Arlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Avenue, Arlington, Arlington County, VA, 22211, United States
|