Samuel David Dealey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Samuel David Dealey
September 13, 1906(1906-09-13) – August 24, 1944 (aged 37)

Place of birth Dallas, Texas
Place of death Offshore near Luzon, Philippines
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Rank Commander
Commands held USS S-20 (SS-125)
USS Harder (SS-257)
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Medal of Honor
Navy Cross (4)
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Purple Heart

Samuel David Dealey (13 September 1906 – 24 August 1944) was a United States Navy submarine commanding officer during World War II. He was among the most decorated Naval officers of the war, receiving six awards for valor including the Medal of Honor for his actions aboard the USS Harder during its fifth war patrol.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Samuel Dealey was born on 13 September 1906 in Dallas, Texas, where he attended Oak Cliff High School. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1930.

Dealey had duty on the battleship USS Nevada (BB-36) before training as a submariner. In command of S-20 at the outbreak of World War II, he assumed command of USS Harder (SS-257) upon her commissioning on 2 December 1942. Commander Dealey guided his submarine deep into enemy waters, wreaking destruction on Japanese shipping.

On Harder's fifth war patrol, Commander Dealey pressed home a series of bold and daring attacks, both surfaced and submerged, which sank three enemy destroyers and damaged two others. For his exceptional gallantry in these actions, Commander Dealey was awarded the Medal of Honor.

He was lost with his submarine during its sixth war patrol, when Harder was sunk 24 August 1944 by a depth charge attack off Luzon, Philippines.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Born: 13 September 1906, Dallas, Tex. Appointed from: Texas. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross with 3 Gold Stars, Silver Star Medal.

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. Harder during her 5th War Patrol in Japanese-controlled waters. Floodlighted by a bright moon and disclosed to an enemy destroyer escort which bore down with intent to attack, Comdr. Dealey quickly dived to periscope depth and waited for the pursuer to close range, then opened fire, sending the target and all aboard down in flames with his third torpedo. Plunging deep to avoid fierce depth charges, he again surfaced and, within 9 minutes after sighting another destroyer, had sent the enemy down tail first with a hit directly amidship. Evading detection, he penetrated the confined waters off Tawi Tawi with the Japanese Fleet base 6 miles away and scored death blows on 2 patrolling destroyers in quick succession. With his ship heeled over by concussion from the first exploding target and the second vessel nose-diving in a blinding detonation, he cleared the area at high speed. Sighted by a large hostile fleet force on the following day, he swung his bow toward the lead destroyer for another "down-the-throat" shot, fired 3 bow tubes and promptly crash-dived to be terrifically rocked seconds later by the exploding ship as the Harder passed beneath. This remarkable record of 5 vital Japanese destroyers sunk in 5 short-range torpedo attacks attests the valiant fighting spirit of Comdr. Dealey and his indomitable command.

[edit] Decorations and awards

In addition to his Medal of Honor, his other awards include the Navy Cross with three gold stars, the Army's Distinguished Service Cross (which was presented by General Douglas MacArthur), the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart.[1] Under his command, Harder was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (US) for its performance in combat.

[edit] Namesakes

In 1953, USS Dealey (DE-1006) was named in his honor; she was the lead ship of her class of destroyer escort.

[edit] See also

United States Navy Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Samuel David Dealey", Find-A-Grave.

[edit] References

This article includes information collected from the Naval Historical Center, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.
  • "Dealey". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy.
Languages