One of the most famous American submarine Skippers was CDR Sam Dealy, known as a ‘destroyer killer’ for his attacks against Japanese ‘Tin Cans’. He was awarded the CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL of HONOR posthumously. The award reads:

“The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure 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 his 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 off 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 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 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.”

These actions took place on the fifth war patrol of USS HARDER. It was very ironic that she was sunk on her sixth war patrol by an American destroyer that had been seized by the Japanese and put into I.J.N. service. Sam Dealey and USS HARDER hold a special place in submarine history reserved for giant-killers. Dealey always looked for a fight with a ‘Tin Can’ rather than avoid contact.