This highest award possible from the United States Government was given to only 7 American submariners. Three of them were posthumous. the four surviving recipients are/were Members of our SHARKHUNTERS.

The CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL of HONOR was awarded to Commander Samuel D. Dealey, which states:

the President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
COMMANDER SAMUEL D. DEALEY
UNITED STATES NAVY
for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the USS HARDER during her fifth 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, Commander 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 nine minutes after sighting another Destroyer, had sent the enemy down tail first with a hit directly amidship. Evading detection, he penetrated the confined waters of Tawi Tawi with the Japanese Fleet Base six miles away and scored death blows on two patrolling destroyers in quick succession.

With his ship heeled over by concussion from the first exploding target and the second vessel node-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 three 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 five vital Japanese Destroyers sunk in five short-range torpedo attacks attests the valiant fighting spirit of Commander Dealey and his indominable command.

Thanks to CAPT. JOHN VICK (233-1987) for this information

USS HARDER was lost with all hands on her next war patrol, but how many know that it was a former US Navy TIN CAN that sank her? This same ‘CAN’ also sank USS CAPELIN.