Captain Richard M. Wright of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1941 describes his education at the Academy and then his career during World War II on the USS Tennessee and the submarines USS Pogy, USS Parche and USS Spadefish. Postwar commentary relates his continued career in submarines USS Blower, USS Cochino, and USS Scabbardfish.
Captain Wright comments on his background in California, experiences at the U.S. Naval Academy, and duty on the USS TENNESSEE before, during, and after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He recounts his admission to submarine school in 1943 and his assignment to the USS POGY. He describes war patrols on the POGY during which they sunk two troop ships en route to Guadalcanal, a patrol on the PARCHE in which they entered Naha harbor at Okinawa and sunk a whale factory ship, and patrols in the SPADEFISH. Post war commentary concerns duty in the BLOWER, COCHINO, and the SCABBARDFISH. He also explains his experiences in the COCHINO during which he was involved in a mission in the Arctic Ocean where the aft battery compartment exploded, badly burning Captain Wright and sinking the ship.
Subsequent assignments described include Bureau of Personnel (BUPERS), command of the KNAPP and the SHIELDS, duty as Naval Attaché at the Hague, command of the MONROVIA, command of Sub Squadron 2 in New London, and service on the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Gift of Richard M. Wright
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1920s-1960s