- 5 months ago
Growler (SS-215) Quick thinking and unselfish devotion to duty on the part of her captain, Commander Howard W. Gilmore, saves the USS Growler from being rammed by an enemy gunboat. Although exposed to murderous machine gun fire, Commander Gilmore stayed on the bridge of the Growler to direct her moves against the enemy. He succeeded in driving the Growler's bow into the gunboat amidships and thereby averted loss of the submarine. He gave his life to save his ship, when, severely wounded and unable to make it to the hatch, he ordered an immediate dive with the command, "Take her down." He was the first submariner to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Ah-ha! Ah-ha! Ah-ha!
00:30I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dyker, retired. The Congressional Medal of Honor, as you know, is our country's highest military award. During World War II, 57 Navy men achieved this great honor. Of the seven submariners who won congressional medals, three did so at the cost of their lives.
00:51The story we are about to bring you involves one of these three men. It tells what he did to achieve a sailor's immortality.
01:04Brisbane, Australia. On December 31st, 1942, the USS Growler had completed refit after her third patrol and reported readiness for sea. But as far as her crew was concerned, she was only half ready.
01:17Oh, come on, Willie. Open up. Look, Gaffney, I'm just chief of the boat. I don't know everything.
01:23You on the level? If the skipper's being relieved, they're keeping it awful quiet. Now, where'd you hear it?
01:29Uh, some of the guys. Well, when you hear any facts, let me know.
01:38Gaff, this might be it. He's too young to be a skipper. Why don't you ask Mr. Davis?
01:46Maybe he knows something.
01:50Hi, Mr. Davis. Any news for tomorrow's paper?
01:53Oh, yeah, Gaffney. This is Ensign William, our new communications officer. Gaffney is the editor of our news sheet.
01:59Can I have your full name, Mr. William? I got a welcome column for all the newcomers.
02:03William W. William.
02:05William W. William. Thank you, sir.
02:07Mr. Davis, how about the captain?
02:10Well, I don't know yet, Gaffney. He's still turned in at the base dispensary.
02:13Well, we're still shoving off tomorrow, aren't we?
02:15So here.
02:16Well, if the skipper wasn't going with us, we'd have got a new one by now, wouldn't we?
02:20Well, not necessarily. I've heard of him coming aboard two hours before sailing.
02:24Looks bad, huh?
02:28Why don't you see Mr. Shade? The exec always knows more than the other officers.
02:32Well, I don't want to look too anxious.
02:34But you're the only one aboard the ship that can get away with it.
02:37Anyhow, a newspaper man's supposed to ask questions.
02:40Well, you just want to find out for yourself, that's all.
02:42Well, don't you?
02:43Let's go.
02:53Commander Howard W. Gilmore of New Orleans, Louisiana, had been skipper to Growler since her commissioning.
02:59In his first six months, Growler had completed three successful patrols,
03:02and her score stood at one enemy destroyer, a gunboat, and three cargo vessels sunk.
03:08One destroyer and several cargo vessels damaged.
03:11Lieutenant Commander Arnold F. Shade of Calistoga, California, as executive officer.
03:16He had been assigned to the Growler with Gilmore from the beginning,
03:19and shared the commanding officer's affection for the boat and crew.
03:23Hello, Captain. How you feeling?
03:25A little rocky, but I'll live.
03:27Got a wipe down? Just about.
03:28What'd the doctor say?
03:29He thinks I should stay in port.
03:31He didn't insist?
03:32Well, I convinced him I had the best executive crew in the fleet,
03:35and I could go to bed for five days without hurting your efficiency.
03:38Good. Gaffney!
03:40Thanks, Mr. Shade.
03:42Gaffney's working on tomorrow's edition.
03:45He's having a little headline trouble.
03:47Headline trouble?
03:48Yeah, it says Happy New Year.
03:50If you'd been replaced, he was going to change it.
03:54On January 1st, 1943, the Growler departed Brisbane to commit
03:58her fourth war patrol.
04:01She had been assigned a station off the coast of New Ireland.
04:10Her patrol would cover enemy shipping lanes in the Rabao,
04:13the heart of the Japanese buildup against New Guinea and Australia.
04:17But it would be nine days before the Growler reached the patrol area,
04:21and except for daily drills and training,
04:23the crew had little to do but relax.
04:26Look down in the middle like this.
04:27The kid's got a right to be anxious.
04:30Good evening, Captain.
04:32Glad to see you out of bed, sir.
04:33Thanks, William.
04:34Feeling a little bit more like myself.
04:36Yes, sir, you're looking better.
04:38My cribbage hasn't improved any.
04:40Thought I'd have a cup of coffee before I go and wash, sir.
04:42Help yourself.
04:44You play cribbage, William?
04:47No, Mr. Shave.
04:48Just a little bridge.
04:50Pretty hard for four of us to sit down together with him.
04:52I suggest you learn a two-man game.
04:54Yes, sir, I'll do that.
04:58Captain.
05:00I don't know if Jeff Davis is pulling my leg,
05:03but he said to tell you that I'm not a shellback.
05:06He said the information was necessary.
05:08You know what a shellback is, Bill?
05:09Yes, sir.
05:13It's an old sailor who's been around.
05:16I'm not that yet.
05:18How'd you get to Australia?
05:20By plane.
05:21Flew over from Pearl.
05:23Well, Davis meant that a man isn't a shellback
05:24until he's crossed the equator and has been properly initiated.
05:28Oh.
05:30You ever crossed the equator on a ship, William?
05:32No, sir.
05:33You haven't?
05:35The royal judge of Neptune's court should hear of this, Captain.
05:37I think you're right.
05:39I'm sure the royal court will be very interested in making a shellback out of Mr. William, eh?
05:43I'm sure.
05:50The royal judge of the court of King Neptune
05:53will now make his pronouncement in the case of the lowly pollywog,
05:57William W. William.
05:58Having been accused of, one, making many unnecessary speed changes while officer of the deck,
06:08and, two, diving frequently to escape aircraft which turned out to be nothing more than his majesty's bosun birds,
06:17thereby disturbing the rest and relaxation of many of his shipmates,
06:23said shipmates being trusty shellbacks and loyal subjects of King Neptune.
06:29This lowly pollywog, William W. William, is hereby sentenced to be rubbed down with graphite grease from main truck to keel,
06:39and to have his hair anointed with U-decompressor oil.
06:46If he defers to all shellbacks and agrees to mend his lubberly ways,
06:52he will be duly admitted to membership in the realm of King Neptune.
06:57Signed, Davy Jones.
07:12From the moment Growler entered her patrol area on January 9th,
07:15she was in daily contact with enemy shipping.
07:17But, time and again, she was frustrated by last-minute course changes and intruding patrol vessels.
07:30Anti-submarine vessels were out in force.
07:34The Growler's presence was known, and the enemy was taking every precaution.
07:38At night, Japanese floatplanes drop flares searching for the Growler, causing her to submerge and lose sight of anticipated targets.
08:05The frustration continued until the morning of January 16th.
08:26I count eight maroons, two patrol boats and a destroyer.
08:30Uh-huh. Turkey's on the table.
08:38Battle stations! Battle stations!
08:41It looked like a feast for the Growler.
08:44The convoy gave no sign of having discovered her presence.
08:47Once inside the enemy screen, she was in good firing position at a 2,000-yard range.
08:52Barying.
08:53Mark.
08:54055.
08:55Range.
08:56Mark.
08:571-800.
08:58Hold it!
09:00They're zigging.
09:01Shift targets.
09:02Standby.
09:03Stern suits.
09:04Hang on the bow.
09:0660 degrees.
09:07Sound scope.
09:08Give me a sonar range.
09:091,100 yards.
09:10Let's go.
09:11Check bearing and shoot.
09:12Bearing.
09:13Locked.
09:141-1-2.
09:15Shoot.
09:16Bearing.
09:17Locked.
09:181-1-2.
09:19Shoot.
09:20High-7.
09:21Fiery.
09:22Fire-8.
09:23Fire-8.
09:25Fiery.
09:27Right slow rodder.
09:29They will brand it.
09:30We will brand it up soon.
09:35To go.
09:36That saw a look.
09:38.
09:39Putting the showed the way again.
09:43Okay.
09:44We're trying to acquire the unrest.
09:46How was the nearest move?
09:47Thanks for the rudder!
09:49Maybe we can line up another one.
09:51Gyro angle unfavorable in all previous targets, Captain.
09:59We got her. Two hits.
10:01Bill, have you been waiting for this?
10:03What do you make her?
10:07The superstructure is similar to the Brisbane and the Rue type.
10:11High-speed screws closing...
10:13It sounds like a destroyer, sir.
10:17Check, Ronnie. We're gonna duck.
10:19200 feet!
10:21200 feet, sir.
10:25One out of eight. How is he shooting?
10:27Making radical things.
10:29Those patrol boats. As long as they're around, it's hard to get in for a shot.
10:33Screws passing over here.
10:35Maybe we ought to try knocking off a few.
10:37We'll see.
10:43One propeller.
10:55That's all, sir. No pings.
11:05Crowley looted the pursuing patrol boats and 35 minutes later came up for a look.
11:09Enemy planes had joined the search.
11:15Nounscope!
11:17150 feet!
11:18150 feet!
11:19150 feet!
11:26Hey, Bill.
11:27Oh, hi, Jeff.
11:29Writing a letter?
11:30No, uh, Gaffney asked me to write an eyewitness report on the sinking this morning.
11:34Oh.
11:35Boy, I just came off watch.
11:37They got planes out again tonight, dropping flares all over.
11:40A real lot to get us, huh?
11:42Oh, yeah.
11:43He should have heard the sonar pinging from three directions.
11:46Busier than flies in the village dump.
11:51You know, every time we run into hard luck, I can't help thinking about the skipper's prophecy.
11:56Skipper's what?
11:58Oh, that's right.
12:00Uh, well, it was just something he said when the boat was launched.
12:03Oh, were you there?
12:05No, but Arnie was, and, well, he told me all about it.
12:08He said the woman who was sponsoring the boat missed with the champagne bottle.
12:13She did?
12:14And it fell right down to where this, this workman was standing.
12:18And he just picked it up and threw it.
12:20Broke it on the hull just in time.
12:22Skipper said that meant bad luck for the boat, but that she'd always fire bullseyes.
12:28Oh, that doesn't stand up.
12:30In fact, good luck on three patrols already.
12:33But there's plenty of torpedoes.
12:34Yeah, that's right.
12:36Boy, I always think about it every time we have a hard time.
12:41Hey, can I read it?
12:43Sure.
12:51Like it?
12:52Swift and true, the grim messenger of death sped to its mark to burst with a shattering roar deep in the bowels of the enemy vessel.
13:01When last seen, the stricken ship was a holocaust of flame.
13:04English is our best subject.
13:08Hey, look, Bill, do yourself a favor.
13:11Yeah?
13:12Yeah, this is fine.
13:13I mean, it's great for an English composition, but not for the guys on this boat.
13:19Oh, a little too purple, huh?
13:23Too green to be more like it.
13:26Well, I can take a hint.
13:28The growler's luck continued fast.
13:31Contact after contact was lost because of gunfire and depth-charging tactics.
13:37The new sheep referred to the submarine as the target-shift growler.
13:46But she was an elusive target, and Commander Gilmore was determined to make her torpedoes count despite the opposition.
13:52What do you get, Arnie?
13:54Bearing 085 true.
13:56We're 1,500 yards to the track.
13:59I can't see a thing up here.
14:00We're going to have to make a radar attack.
14:02You're going to have to be careful.
14:04Sound and radar haven't been consistent.
14:06Very well.
14:07Come to course 085, all ahead standard.
14:11Coming to course 085, all ahead standard.
14:14You're heading at them to reduce our silhouette, sir?
14:20That's right, Bill.
14:24Chip on the starboard beam.
14:28Chip on the fourth down.
14:31I got us in the crossfire.
14:32Clear the bridge!
14:33Dive!
14:34Dive!
14:35You're trying to see him!
14:47Periscope is useless in this visibility.
14:51Well, that folks the target are by sound.
14:53Maybe we can lose those gun balls.
14:59High-speed screws closing both rows, Captain.
15:02If you're down too deep, we'll never catch you.
15:07Water feet! Water feet!
15:19The returning tower!
15:22Captain, forward torpedo room reports. Captain, a number one ballot tank man ruptured.
15:28Take charge, I'll be in the torpedo room.
15:29Yes sir.
15:31The deck plates and a jack on a double.
15:37The deck plates and a jack on a double.
16:01That's the best we can do, Captain. Nice work with you.
16:07As soon as we surface, I can put a new packing in there.
16:13Patrol boats are still looking. We won't be able to go up until they have to die.
16:17If we keep the drain pump working, we can stay even.
16:18The noise, they can hear it. You better secure that pump. When the water gets too high, put it back on the line.
16:27Aye, aye, sir. Secure the drain pump!
16:28How's it going, Captain?
16:29Okay, I think.
16:30You plan on keeping this down angle, sir?
16:31After a while, why?
16:32Cookie wants an even keel.
16:50Says those cakes he's baking, four inches high forward, half an inch at the afterizarin'.
16:51four inches high forward, half an inch of the after-hand.
16:54I'll tell them I'll have a piece of the after-hand.
16:57After dark, the Growler surfaced and replaced the damaged gasket.
17:01Test dives showed the boat ship shape.
17:04Midnight, January 7th.
17:06The search for enemy targets continued.
17:10It's like last night.
17:12Visibility's no more than 2,000 yards.
17:15If they can't see us, we can't see them.
17:18It's like every gunboat in the Japanese Navy is covering these parts.
17:22Well, the word is they're trying to evacuate their troops from Guadalcanal.
17:25That's why the pressure.
17:28They've gotten this at the right time.
17:31You know, you're getting the equivalent experience of two ordinary patrols.
17:35One thing I'm glad about, holding a skipper like Gilmore.
17:39Talk about being nervous in the service those first few days.
17:42That's right.
17:43He made a shell back out of you, didn't he?
17:47Bridge.
17:48Radar contact off starboard bow.
17:503,500 yards passing opposite course.
17:53Very well.
17:54Captain to the bridge.
17:55Contact off starboard bow.
17:57See anything?
17:59Nothing, Mr. Davis.
18:05Battle station torpedo.
18:07Battle stations torpedo.
18:09What do you get?
18:10One propeller, sir.
18:11There's one?
18:12That's all.
18:13No pings.
18:14Must be a gunboat.
18:15I heard it.
18:16She's closing faster, about 20 knots.
18:18We'll make it on the surface.
18:23Patches of low clouds cut in visibility to 100 yards in some places, Captain.
18:27I think I see her.
18:28A little off port bow.
18:33Just a blob out there, but she's moving on opposite course.
18:36Right full rudder.
18:37Go below, Jeff.
18:38We have firing solution, Captain.
18:51Range now 500 yards.
18:52Shoot as soon as you're ready.
18:53She's turning, Mr. Shade.
18:54Closing fast.
18:55Captain.
18:56We're too close to used torpedoes.
18:57Can you see him, Bill?
18:58Tell, sir.
18:59Target closing on collision course.
19:00Left full rudder.
19:01Left full rudder.
19:02Left full rudder.
19:03Take the brakes.
19:04Clear the brakes.
19:05Clear?
19:06Captain, we're too close to used torpedoes.
19:09Can you see them, Bill?
19:11No, sir.
19:12Target closing on collision course.
19:14Left full radar!
19:32Clear the bridge!
19:36Time to collision alarm!
19:52Time to collision alarm!
19:54No!
19:57No!
20:00No!
20:01No!
20:03Take it down!
20:17Take it down!
20:26All back, move!
20:27All right, take!
20:33Arnie, she's out of control!
21:03Slow all ballast!
21:11Slow all ballast!
21:12Okay, Arnie, I can hold her now.
21:26Secure the air!
21:27Battle stations, gun action!
21:28Battle stations, gun action!
21:29What are you going to do, sir?
21:30We might have to shoot it out when we get back up.
21:33The boat's making some funny sounds, Mr. Sheik.
21:37There, she's sinking.
21:39Take her up, Jeff, all the way!
21:43I was hoping.
21:56Yeah.
21:58Attention all hands, this is Commander Shea.
22:05Captain Gilmore, Ensign William, Fireman Kelly.
22:07We're lost, and the action just completed.
22:09I can't presume to say what's in all our hearts.
22:13All right, we've got a lot of damage to repair.
22:14Let's get to it.
22:15The terribly damaged growler limped slowly towards home with the help of air protection.
22:20A bow had been bent at right angles to port, and it took the combined effort of every man on board to bring her in.
22:35To Commander Howard W. Gilmore went the first Congressional Medal of Honor awarded a Submariner.
22:51For distinguished gallantry in bowler, above and beyond the call of duty.
22:56I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
23:07We have with us Captain Arnold F. Shade, the executive officer who succeeded to command of the growler during her fourth patrol.
23:14Arnie, when I look at the pictures of the growler's condition after a collision with that Japanese gunboat,
23:19I'm amazed that you and your crew were able to bring her to port.
23:22Well, it not only looked bad, Tommy, it was.
23:25As you can see, the bow was bent almost 90 degrees to port.
23:29We had to carry lots of rudder all the way to prevent her from running in circles.
23:34It took three months to put a new bow on and to make that boat ready for service again, didn't it?
23:40That's right.
23:41But no matter what our achievement in bringing the growler home,
23:44it pales to insignificance compared with Commander Gilmore's in saving all of us.
23:50You're referring to the ramming of the gunboat?
23:53Yes. The captain's quick action in calling for a sudden turn put the enemy in front of us and saved us from being rammed by him.
24:01It is a tradition that the captain leaves the bridge last no matter what the danger.
24:08In the posthumous citation accompanying Commander Gilmore's Medal of Honor are these words.
24:13In the terrific fire of the gunboat's heavy machine guns,
24:17Commander Gilmore, refusing safety for himself, remained on deck while his men preceded him below.
24:24Arnie, our deep thanks for your assistance in helping us to tell this story.
24:29It's been my pleasure, Tommy.
24:31This picture is another memorial to those who gave their lives that day on the growler.
24:38Ironically enough, Gilmore's prophecy spoken at the launching of the growler proved true.
24:43On November the 8th, 1944, while on patrol in the South China Sea, the growler was lost with all hands.
24:51We hope you will be with us again when we will bring you another true story from the history of the Silent Service.
24:57The
25:12The ocean will control the oceans wide
25:18From down, down, underneath the sea
25:22Satan's foes will pass the word
25:26In the future's yet to be
25:30That will stay as long as there's
25:35A submarine here underneath the sea
25:39So rig for dive and take the dive
25:43Down, down, down, down, down, underneath the ocean
25:47Fearless men will find me down
25:51In the deep blue and beneath the sea
Comments