Commander Howard W. Gilmore, MOH

First Submarine Medal of Honor Winner of WWII

Sep 12, 2008 Paul Crozier

The most famous act of self sacrifice known to the U.S. submarine service was performed by Commander Howard W. Gilmore, and earned him the Medal of Honor.

At the age of 41, Howard Gilmore had seen a great deal of action. While serving as the executive officer of USS Shark (SS-174) prior to the war, his throat had been slashed during an assault while on shore leave. His first three war patrols as captain of USS Growler (SS-215) were action packed as well. His numerous aggressive attacks had resulted in the sinking of five enemy ships. Prior to departing Brisbane on Growler’s fourth war patrol Gilmore had been awarded two Navy Crosses.

Growler’s Fourth War Patrol

On New Year’s Day 1943, Growler transited to her area and began to patrol the shipping lanes off Rabaul. She sighted an enemy convoy on January 11. Gilmore conned his boat past the escorts and fired two torpedoes. He saw them hit before being forced down by a destroyer. Growler had sunk the 5,900 ton passenger-cargo ship Chifuku Maru.

Gilmore continued the patrol and made two further attacks. Unfortunately, they did not result in sinkings.

Patrol Boat Hayasaki

At 0110 on February 7 Growler sighted a ship in the murky darkness. Gilmore readied torpedoes and closed for an attack. At a range of approximately 2000 yards, the target, the 2,500 ton patrol boat Hayasaki, spotted Growler. The swift ship reversed course and charged the submarine.

While Growler’s radar operators observed the course change, it remained undetected by the bridge watch until the ship loomed out of the darkness close aboard. Gilmore put his rudder over and rang up flank speed. Whether he intended to ram or evade, Growler’s bow struck Hayasaki amidships. The jarring collision dropped the submarine’s speed from 17 knots to zero in an instant and knocked numerous personnel from their feet.

“Take Her Down!”

The crew of Hayasaki recovered first. They responded with raking machine gun fire from point-blank range. Killed instantly were Ensign W.W. William, the assistant officer of the deck, and lookout F3c W.F. Kelley. Severely wounded, Gilmore gave the order to clear the bridge. The four remaining watch standers tumbled below, two of them wounded.

Gunfire and the groans of the twisted hulls roared in the night. Gilmore, the last man on the bridge and unable to get below, shouted to the open conning tower hatch, "Take her down!" He had chosen to sacrifice himself rather than further jeopardize his boat.

Below, Growler’s executive officer, Lt. Cdr. Arnold F. Schade, hesitated momentarily as bullets swept the bridge overhead and pierced the conning tower hull. Reluctantly, he complied and dove the submarine.

It took 30 minutes before sufficient repairs were made and Schade felt able to fight the boat. He battle surfaced but Hayasaki was gone. And despite an extensive search, Howard Gilmore had disappeared as well. With her crumpled bow bent to port, Growler limped back to Brisbane.

Medal of Honor

For gallantly sacrificing his life to save his command, Howard Gilmore became the first submariner of World War II to be awarded the Medal of Honor. His final order, “Take her down”, echoes through the submarine force to this day and remains their standard of duty and self sacrifice. References:

Kimmett, Larry and Regis, Margaret. U.S. Submarines in World War II, Seattle: Navigator Publishing, 1996.

Roscoe, Theodore. United States Submarine Operations in World War II, Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, 1949.

The copyright of the article Commander Howard W. Gilmore, MOH in Military History is owned by Paul Crozier. Permission to republish Commander Howard W. Gilmore, MOH in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Howard Gilmore - 1942

USS Growler upon return to Brisbane February 1943

Bow of USS Growler after Hayasaki collision