Roy M. Davenport
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| Roy Milton Davenport | |
|---|---|
| June 18, 1909 – December 24, 1987 (aged 78) | |
 Roy Milton Davenport |
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| Place of birth | Kansas City, Kansas |
| Place of death | Laguna Hills, California |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Unit | Submarine Service |
| Commands held | USS Haddock USS Trepang |
| Awards | Navy Cross (5) Silver Star (2), Bronze Star Navy Commendation Medal (2), Presidential Unit Citation (2), Navy Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Expert Pistol Medal and Expert Rifle Medal |
Rear Admiral Roy M. Davenport (June 18, 1909 – December 24, 1987) was an officer in the United States Navy and is the first individual and only sailor to receive five Navy Crosses, the U.S. Navy’s highest decoration after the Medal of Honor. Lieutenant General Chesty Puller, US Marines, was the second to be awarded five and there have been no others. Davenport was decorated for heroism in submarine service during World War ll as a submarine commander fighting the Japanese in the Pacific.
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[edit] Service
Davenport participated in 10 submarine war patrols, six of them as commanding officer. It was with the six commands of the famous USS Haddock and USS Trepang, both Gato class submarines that he received the awards of the 5 Navy Crosses, two Silver Star Medals, a Commendation Ribbon with Bronze Star, two Presidential Unit Citations and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon. Besides nine additional awards, he was awarded the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia with stars for ten successful war patrols. These are documented in his self authored book Clean Sweep.
A student of Christian Science, Davenport was dubbed the "praying skipper" and was known for his daring attacks against Japanese ships, often executed on the surface to gain additional speed. In all, he was credited with sinking or damaging 27 Japanese ships, with a total of 46 when service on other submarines is included. While none of the men under his command were lost, he and his crews experienced many close calls and escapes. He credited his religious faith for his successes.
[edit] Television Appearance
In 1954, the popular television program This Is Your Life with host Ralph Edwards recounted his wartime events with close family appearing with him. Davenport’s cousin was Maxwell Taylor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President John F. Kennedy. Taylor earlier gained fame as commander of the 101st Airborne in World War ll and later served as Ambassador to South Vietnam after the Vietnam War. Taylor did not appear on the program as only those who interacted in Davenport’s wartime adventures and immediate family were invited.
[edit] History
Davenport was born in Kansas City, Kansas, and grew up in the mid west. In June of 1933 he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy as an ensign. In 1935 he married Jane Andre Gorham, his wife of 52 years , and together they had two daughters, Delia Davenport Gruenig and Bonnie Davenport Byhre. His first naval assignment was on the battleship USS Texas. In 1936 he attended submarine school in New London Connecticut. Upon graduation he was temporarily assigned to the USS R-2 until the USS Cachalot arrived on the East Coast to be re-engined. After some time in Panama, he arrived in Pearl Harbor in June, 1939. The Cachalot was the first submarine to have the Torpedo Data Computer installed that determined the gyroscope settings for torpedoes. Davenport was operating the Cachalot when World War ll began.
In 1941, Davenport was serving on the USS Silversides, the first ship commissioned to engage the Japanese after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as Silverside’s Executive Officer under Lt. Commander Creed Burlingame for four patrols. Burlingame then recommended Davenport for a command of his own and was given the USS haddock. The Haddock had already had three successful patrols and after adding Davenport’s successes, established a new record for ships sunk at 156,314 tons and 67,139 tons damaged. Next, Davenport took command of the submarine USS Trepang for two more successful patrols to make a total of ten. He then requested to return to the U.S. Naval Academy to teach in the Department of Marine Engineering. After retirement with promotion to Rear Admiral, he retired with his family in Menlo Park, California.
He was married to Jane Andre Davenport, and had two daughters: Delia (Dee) Gruenig, Bonnie Byhre
[edit] Navy Cross citations
[edit] #1: June to August 1943 — off Palau and the Caroline Islands
Lieutenant Commander Davenport (U.S. Navy, 72345) received his first Navy Cross award for service in August 1943 off Palau and the Caroline Islands while serving on the U.S.S. Haddock during World War II:
- Citation
- For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of a United States Submarine during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific Area. Throughout numerous hazardous war patrols in enemy-infested waters, Lieutenant Commander Davenport pressed home his attacks with cool and courageous determination and despite intense and persistent hostile opposition, succeeded in sinking over 10,500 tons of enemy shipping and damaging over 35,500 tons. His aggressive fighting spirit, inspiring leadership and the splendid efficiency of the men in his command contributed immeasurably to the success of our operations in this vital area and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
[edit] #2: September 1943 — off the Truk Islands
Lieutenant Commander Davenport received his first Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross award for service in September 1943 off the Truk Islands while serving on the U.S.S. Haddock during World War II:
- Citation
- For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of a United States Submarine while that vessel was engaged in an aggressive and successful patrol against enemy Japanese in the Pacific War Area. Although operating in the presence of formidable concentrations of anti-submarine vessels, Lieutenant Commander Davenport pressed home a series of vigorous and persistent attacks which resulted in the sinking or damaging of an important amount of hostile shipping. Despite severe countermeasures on the part of the enemy, he brought his ship through many perilous encounters and his crew home without material damage or loss of life. His expert seamanship and cool courage in the face of great personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
[edit] #3: October to November 1943 — off the Truk Islands
Lieutenant Commander Davenport received his 2nd Gold Star in lieu of a third Navy Cross award for service from October to November 1943 off the Truk Islands while serving on the U.S.S. Haddock during World War II:
- Citation
- For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. HADDOCK during the Seventh War Patrol in enemy Japanese-controlled waters in the Pacific War Area. With superb tactical skill, Commander Davenport maneuvered his ship into striking position and in a daring surface torpedo attack against a hostile destroyer search group, sank one of the Japanese warships then, during the ensuing confusion, carried out a successful surface retirement. Contacting two heavily escorted enemy convoys, he and his gallant command delivered accurate and devastating attacks against the hostile vessels, sinking a large amount of Japanese shipping. Commander Davenport’s inspiring leadership and indomitable fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
[edit] #4: September to October 1944 — Tokyo Bay
Commander Davenport received his 3rd Gold Star in lieu of a fourth Navy Cross award for service from September to October 1944 in the Toyko Bay Area while serving on the U.S.S. Trepang during World War II:
- Citation
- For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TREPANG during the First War Patrol of that vessel in enemy waters. Effectively covering wide areas of the enemy’s shipping routes, Commander Davenport tracked Japanese surface forces with relentless determination, skillfully developing his contacts into highly aggressive torpedo attacks. Boldly launching his fire against hostile escorted convoys, he directed his command in the destruction of several important enemy vessels and continued his vigorous tactics by a night surface attack against a Japanese task force to sink or damage severely combatant ships of heavy fire power and vital to the enemy’s sustained prosecution of the war. His valiant ship-handling in evading severe enemy countermeasures despite the TREPANG’s inferior speed and highly phosphorescent seas and the gallant fighting spirit of the entire ship’s company reflect the highest credit upon Commander Davenport and the United States Naval Service.
[edit] #5: November to December 1944 — off Luzon, Philippines
Commander Davenport received his 4th Gold Star in lieu of a fifth Navy Cross award for service from November to December 1944 off Luzon, Philippine Islands while commanding the U.S.S. Trepang during World War II:
- Citation
- For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TREPANG during the Second War Patrol of that vessel in enemy Japanese-controlled waters. Daringly penetrating a strong hostile escort screen to deliver a series of night surface attacks, Commander Davenport launched his torpedoes into an escorted convoy, holding to his targets grimly in the face of heavy countermeasures and sinking an important amount of Japanese tonnage. During this excellently planned and brilliantly executed engagement, the TREPANG effectively coordinated her efforts with other submarines and, as a result of the combined firepower of these gallant ships, contributed to the destruction of the entire convoy within a period of three hours. A courageous and expert seaman, forceful and inspiring in his leadership, Commander Davenport, as Group Commander, was largely responsible for the outstanding success of this vital and hazardous mission. His gallant conduct and the exceptional combat readiness of his command reflect the highest credit upon Commander Davenport and the United States Naval Service.
[edit] U.S. military decorations
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Navy Cross with four gold award stars |
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Silver Star with 2 gold award stars |
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Bronze Star with Valor device |
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Presidential Unit Citation with 2 bronze stars |
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American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp |
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American Campaign Medal |
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Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal |
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National Defense Service Medal |
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Korean War Service Medal |
[edit] See also
- Chesty Puller (The only other person to receive the Navy Cross 5 times)
[edit] References
- Navy Cross citations (Accessed from web.archive.org)
- Trapang, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships 7: 269-270, 1981. Describes Davenport's actions that resulted in his fourth and fifth Navy Cross awards.
[edit] External links
- Home of Heroes
- American Military Decorations & Awards Research Institute
- USS Haddock, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Details WWII actions of the USS Haddock, commanded by LCDR Davenport.
