Rear Admiral Richard O'kane Was a U.S. Navy Submarine Commander During World War II. He Received the Medal of Honor for Directl
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Rear Admiral Richard O'Kane was a U.S. Navy Submarine Commander during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for directly participating in more successful attacks on Japanese ships than any other fighting submarine officer during the war. He graduated from the Naval Academy in May 1934 and received submarine instruction four years later. In 1942, Lieutenant O'Kane joined the submarine USS Wahoo and served as her Executive Officer (XO) on war patrols. One of his Commanders was the aggressive and highly successful skipper Lieutenant Commander Dudley Morton. Morton often applied reversal of standard practices between XO and Commander. This undoubtedly helped O'Kane to view procedures from a different aspect, develop operational tactics and improve the submarine's efficiency. In 1943, Lieutenant Commander O'Kane placed the USS Tang in commission and commanded her through her entire career. O'Kane was credited for the sinking of 31 Japanese ships, the highest for a single commanding submarine officer. The total of enemy ships sunk was confirmed after the war when Japanese war records were reviewed. The USS Tang also rescued scores of flight crews who had been shot down. In one single mission, the Tang picked up as many as 22 airmen. Lieutenant Commander O'Kane was captured by the Japanese when USS Tang was sunk at night near Taiwan by one of her own malfunctioning torpedo. Only 9 of 87 crew members survived. They were picked up the next morning by the Japanese frigate CD- 34. Survivors of USS Tang ' s previous sinkings were on board that ship, and they beat up the American submariners. The nine captives were placed in prison camps until the end of the war and survived the harsh treatment. O'Kane weighted only 88 pounds when the camp was liberated. After the war O'Kane carried out various duties with ties to submarines. He was put in command of the Submarine School at New London, Connecticut. He was promoted to Captain and in 1954 became Commander of Submarine Squadron 7. He retired 3 years later and simultaneously advanced, due to his top Pacific War record for submarine achievements, to the rank of Rear Admiral. Rear Admiral O'Kane died at the age of 83 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his wife buried beside him. In 1998 a 505 feet long, fast maneuverable warship was christened in his name by his granddaughter Leslie A. Berry. Present at the launching ceremony were also two survivors from the USS Tang. Boatswain Mate William R. Leibold, who retired as a Commander in the U.S. Navy, and Chief Petty Officer Floyd Caverly. .