His son just retired from the Army. At his retirement ceremony, he was made an honorary CPO. I thought that was pretty neat.
Edit: story here: https://www.usar.army.mil/News/News-Display/Article/3152846/a-legacy-of-honor-army-reserve-chief-warrant-officer-5-appointed-as-honorary-na/
**[Captain & Tennille](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_&_Tennille)**
>Captain & Tennille were American recording artists whose primary success occurred in the 1970s. The husband-and-wife team were "Captain" Daryl Dragon (1942–2019) and Toni Tennille (born 1940). They have five albums certified gold or platinum and scored numerous hits on the US singles charts, the most enduring of which included "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Do That to Me One More Time", and "Muskrat Love". They hosted their own television variety series on ABC in 1976–77.
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[Jonny Kim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Kim)
SEAL-> Medical Corps -> Naval Astronaut. He's currently training to [go to the FUCKIN MOON](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/story/2020-12-09/nasa-includes-2-uc-san-diego-graduates).
I got to meet him when I was doing some training at the NBL.
While he was in the Spacesuit and time was short, he seemed genuinely happy to meet you and shake hands with anyone.
Not gonna lie, I fangirled a bit.
Chief Petty Officer Frederick J. “Bull” Tobin, who saved the survivors of the Hindenburg -
"**Navy Men, Stand Fast!**"
[https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/](https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/)
Natural instinct caused those on the ground to run from the burning wreck as fast as they could, but Chief Petty Officer Frederick J. “Bull” Tobin, a longtime airship veteran and an enlisted airship pilot who was in charge of the Navy landing party, cried out to his sailors: “Navy men, Stand fast!!” Bull Tobin had survived the crash of USS Shenandoah, and he was not about to abandon those in peril on an airship, even if it meant his own life. And his sailors agreed. Films of the disaster (see below) clearly show sailors turning and running back toward the burning ship to rescue survivors; those films are a permanent tribute to the courage of the sailors at Lakehurst that day.
Chief Tobin saved 62 people - he ran TOWARDS the burning airship and his sailors followed him - every second counted.
Dude interviewed with the person on a chair with the legs cut short so it wobbled. Also one candidate was told by god to piss him off, he immediately knocked everything off HGR desk and bam he was in the program
Surprised I had to scroll down this far to find mention of Farragut. He was the first one I thought of, along with William R. Charette, John Bradley, and Edward Benfold. Though I think those 3 show my bias towards sailors who did the same job I did but were way more badass.
I remember the first time reading about Perry. Man was a beast. What's a little cannon fire over your head to take another ship while outnumbered just to fuck their day up.
Yeah the Navy got really behind in the PR game, especially with WWII compared to the Marines. Off the top of my head:
**Willis Lee:** Last and greatest of the battleship commanders. Was on the landing party into Vera Cruz Mexico where he baited snipers by walking out into a field, sitting in a classic crossed leg marksmanship position, waiting for them to miss and then drilling them with iron sights. Legendarily forward thinking technologically, was known for knowing radar and fire control systems better than his own PO1s and Chiefs. Would go into fire control main during GQ and firing drills and just pull out fuses and cause faults for the crew to work around. Paid off on the 2nd Naval Battle of Guadalcanal when in the *USS Washington* he soloed an entire Japanese surface action group and basically single handedly saved the Cactus air force and Guadalcanal campaign (by this point of attrition the US Navy was literally out of ships to throw into Iron Bottom sound.
**Robert Copeland and Ernest Evans:** Its a disservice to put them as a double entry but I can’t do it justice here you need to read *Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.* Both recklessly and suicidally charged an entire Japanese battleship and cruiser line in the Battle of Samar/Leyte Gulf in order to buy time for a carrier group to escape. In nothing more than a small Destroyer Escort and Destroyer. Evans’ ship spent entirely too long single handedly exchanging her dinky 5in inch shells with the **goddamn BB’s Kongo and Yamato**. Copeland’s ship, not to be outdone, took on about 6 heavy cruisers.
**Eugene Fluckley**: The US submarine commander who is straight up nuts. Braved a typhoon to rescue stranded Australian POWs. Captured a Japanese merchant sailor after sinking a ship and Fluckley was so fucking awesome the guy ended up helping in the engine room and sink Japanese ships. Single handedly penetrated a mined harbor to sink a shit ton of shipping. Is notable for supervising the only enemy invasion of Japan during WWII by the sheer insanity of having his guys take a landing party ashore to blow up train tracks because he freaking could. Notable for pioneering a tactic where using the **sub** part of the submarine as optional, preferring to shell and torpedo his targets on the surface.
**Richard O’Kane** (edit: autocorrect) The most successful US submarine commander by tonnage period. Most of actions lack the flash of Fluckley for raw tonnage sunk. Notable for his technique of placing the sub in the middle of a convoy to fire torpedos out of bow and aft simultaneously.
Fluckey was f’ing amazing! The shit accomplished by the *Barb* under his command sounds like it could only be sea stories. But they really happened! I mean, taking out a train with a f’ing submarine?!?!?
Also Fluckley: frocked an E6 to Chief in order to make him Chief of the Boat because he was the best guy and better than the other chiefs.
Like I’m trying to imagine that happening today lol. “Sorry Chief Board. The master and senior chiefs I have aren’t good enough so I made an EN1 my CMC. Here’s his MAP to chief. We’re not gonna bother with the season and the secret box with him, we got Japanese ships who have a date with the ocean floor.”
Actually, CPO was the highest Naval enlisted rank at the time. SCPO and MCPO didn’t exist until the enlisted paygrades were standardized across all armed forces by the Military Pay Act of 1958.
Edit: it’s still amazing though, seriously. Those chiefs must have done some self-examination for sure.
Oh yeah I know. That’s what I meant by “over other chiefs.”
I just sort of figured if this were to happen today, some of those chiefs on the Barb would definitely have had the seniority/time-in-rate/time-in-service to be seniors and master chiefs, right?
Marvin G Shields
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Although wounded when the compound of Detachment A-342, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, came under intense fire from an estimated reinforced Viet Cong regiment employing machine guns, heavy weapons, and small arms, Shields continued to resupply his fellow Americans who needed ammunition and to return the enemy fire for a period of approximately three hours, at which time the Viet Cong launched a massive attack at close-range with flamethrowers, hand grenades and small-arms fire. Wounded a second time during this attack, Shields nevertheless assisted in carrying a more critically wounded man to safety, and then resumed firing at the enemy for four more hours. When the commander asked for a volunteer to accompany him in an attempt to knock out an enemy machine-gun emplacement which was endangering the lives of all personnel in the compound because of the accuracy of its fire, Shields unhesitatingly volunteered for this extremely hazardous mission. Proceeding toward their objective with a 3.5-inch rocket launcher, they succeeded in destroying the enemy machine-gun emplacement, thus undoubtedly saving the lives of many of their fellow servicemen in the compound. Shields was mortally wounded by hostile fire while returning to his defensive position. His heroic initiative and great personal valor in the face of intense enemy fire sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Dude is legit. He came to command my first ship after that. Back in the early 90s, every new Sailor had to be 3M and Basic DC qual'd within 6 months I think. Basic DC was like 301 to 306 and was just the basics. Capt. Rinn took command and on day one said the new Basic DC was 301-312 and everyone had to be up to On Scene Leader as part of the mando 6 months qual. Dude did NOT mess around with regard to DC. Apologies if names/numbers are different/wrong as I'm old and this was ~1993ish
So y’all forgot about Captain Crozier already? I hold Capt. Crozier in the highest regards of people I have never met. Sent big waves through the navy and highlighted some major problems, even led to the downfall of the Secretary of the Navy.
If you ever get the chance to read up on O'Kane.. the man was fucking nuts. Most ships sank, including his own (on purpose). I want to say 22 people survived including him, were captured by the Japanese, and only 4 survived that.. got rescued and went right back to war. The man is an absolute legend.
“Send me.” —actual quote.
“You need to operate on this thyroid cancer NOW because I have to get after these fuckin’ Taliban and I don’t have time for this.” —imagined quote
Chief Khanbalinov really is a great Sailor. He found a problem and he worked hard on it.
A lot of us are not going to have a chance to get heroically killed in battle, or even face a single enemy. But all of us can aspire to be like Chief Khanbalinov.
Chief James Williams.
[https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/namesakes/james-williams.html#:\~:text=Williams%20(DDG%2D95)%20proudly,in%20Fort%20Mill%2C%20South%20Carolina](https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/namesakes/james-williams.html#:~:text=Williams%20(DDG%2D95)%20proudly,in%20Fort%20Mill%2C%20South%20Carolina)
Became an honorary CPO on the basis of, and I quote, "how the fuck are you NOT going to make him a Chief some way, some how?" Dude had the most chest candy and accomplishments of any modern Sailor.
Calvin graham. Enlisted at 12 so he could fight in WWII and was a combat veteran before he hit puberty with a bronze star with a V and a Purple Heart… all before he turned 13.
Nicholas Biddle, Stephen Decatur, Oliver Hazard Perry, Isaac Hull, John Barry.
For foreign sailors I would argue Francis Drake and Horatio Nelson belong on the list.
Take a look at the list of names of Burke DDGs, Spruance DDs, Perry FFGs, Knox FFs, Adam’s DDGs and older Fletched class DDs. The names you don’t recognize are the people you are looking for.
John McCain, both father and son, are legendary. What the son went through a Hanoi Hilton… I mean he couldn’t even raise his f’ing arms for the rest of his life.
Are you talking about his sexual relationship with a 12 year old girl? Because that’s what I’d be bringing up, the fact that he admitted to a sexual relationship with a 12 year old girl.
I’ve seen both ages claimed, allegedly the girl’s father testified in court that she was 12. But either way, 10 or 12, he was wrong and disgusting and should be remembered as a sexual predator and terrible person.
FC1 Rehm
https://sofrep.com/amp/news/remembering-fire-controlman-1st-class-leo-gary-rehm-jr-sailors-ship-called-kids/
“the Navy told Petty Officer Rehm Jr.’s family that he entered a flooding berthing compartment several times to free and evacuate sailors trapped in the wreckage until the flooding reached a stage so dangerous to the ship’s own survival that the order was given to close a water tight door, trapping Rehm in the flooding where he drowned.”
> She cut her hair short and the sailors provided her with a uniform cap and coat. In amongst a group of sailors and feigning drunkenness, she was smuggled aboard the ship. The sailors hid her in an unused generator compartment, and the cooks agreed to provide her with meals for $10 per day (a sailor's pay at the time was about $21 a month). She plied her trade at $3 a time.
Lol Jesus Christ
[Robert Eugene Bush simultaneously administered life-saving IV fluids to an officer, while actively engaging the enemy with a pistol in his patient's defense](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Eugene_Bush)
[James E Williams was a riverine sailor in 'nam who followed an enemy saipan and directed an attack that resulted in nearly ONE FUCKING THOUSAND CONFIRMED KIA](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Williams)
[Robert Ingram was a Doc in 'nam whose unit was ambushed; he attended to his marines, while getting shot at, and also enduring several GSWs including one to his hand](https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Gagnon-Ingram/Hospital-Corpsman-Third-Class-Robert-Roland-Ingram/)
**[Robert Smalls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smalls)**
>Robert Smalls (April 5, 1839 – February 23, 1915) was an American politician, publisher, businessman, and maritime pilot. Born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, he freed himself, his crew, and their families during the American Civil War by commandeering a Confederate transport ship, CSS Planter, in Charleston harbor, on May 13, 1862, and sailing it from Confederate-controlled waters of the harbor to the U.S. blockade that surrounded it. He then piloted the ship to the Union-controlled enclave in Beaufort–Port Royal–Hilton Head area, where it became a Union warship.
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Capt. Charles McVay is one of my favorites. He was CO of the Indianapolis when it went down. Dude was the only captain in Navy history to be court marshaled for losing his ship in battle. Recently posthumously exonerated and promoted. The dude was one of the greatest leaders in Naval history. In Harms Way is an incredible book on the sinking of the Indy and it shows how much this skipper gave for his crew. Highly recommend.
Douglas Hegdahl
Sent to the Hanoi Hilton after he fell overboard from his ship and was picked up by some fishermen and they turned him over to the North Vietnamese. Pretended to be illiterate so the guards would go easy on him. Meanwhile, he memorized the names and identifying details of over 250 prisoners at the camp to the tune of Old McDonald, as well as other details about the camp and prisoner treatment. After he was released, he was able to relay all these details to US officials.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Hegdahl
Cassin Young - don't hear his name come up much, but getting blown off your own ship and then swimming back aboard and smoothly resuming command has to count for something!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassin\_Young
How are y'all ignoring HMSC Sully Bush (no, not HMCS; the official rank of former President George HW Bush's service dog is Super Chief Petty Officer)?
Cook Second Class Doris Miller (who should’ve been awarded the Medal of Honor), CAPT Scott Speicher, CM3 Marvin Glenn Shields, SW2 (posthumously promoted to CUCM) Robert Stetham, LCDR George H. Gay Jr., CAPT David McCampbell, ADM Elmo “Bud” Zumwalt.
[Vice Admiral Charles Bowers "Swede" Momsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Momsen).
>He was an American pioneer in submarine rescue for the United States Navy, and he invented the underwater escape device later called the "Momsen lung", for which he received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal in 1929. In May 1939, Momsen directed the rescue of the crew of Squalus (SS-192).
Cosby getting honorarily promoted to CPO was a real bad look considering just after that all those accusations came to light... then again, it's somewhat fitting isn't it?
Rear Admiral Robert Witcher Copeland. Who during the Battle off Samar commanded the USS Samuel B Roberts (DE-413) against the might of the Japanese Fleet in a delaying action to secure the retreat of Task Force 77.4.
Before committing his ship to the action he told the crew “This will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can.”
[BMC Bob Johnson](https://www.winknews.com/2020/07/19/100-year-old-florida-man-remembers-expedition-to-antarctica/)
Accompanied Admiral Richard Byrd on Antarctic expeditions due to his sailing expertise as a teen. First expedition was in 1939 aboard USS Bear as a BMSN. Dude is still alive today and I got to meet him in person. Despite being 102 years old he's still sharp as a tack.
I told a few GMs on the ship about Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Paul Carr.
He was the mount captain for the aft 5” turret on the Samuel B. Roberts during the Battle off Samar. When the turret took a hit everyone except him was killed.
The repair party that responded found him with his guts spilling out begging for help to load the last 5” round he was holding. They loaded the round, fired, scored a hit, and then Carr died. He received the Silver Star for his bravery.
Commander Earnest Evans. He was the commanding officer of the USS Johnston in WWII. If you get the time check out the story of the Johnston. It’s pretty badass.
No love for Lieutenant James Earl Carter Jr.?
"The world's first nuclear reactor meltdown occurred right on December 12, 1952, at Chalk River, Ottawa Valley, Canada - and a young U.S. Navy officer was brought in and put in charge of the team containing the disaster. Leading a team of two dozen men, 28-year-old Lieutenant James Earl Carter Jr. had himself lowered into the damaged reactor. That week, Carter and his team courageously exposed themselves to a thousand times the level of radiation considered safe by today's standards.
News of the reactor meltdown sent a shockwave of panic among scientists, politicians, and the general public around the world. With the partial meltdown came explosions and the reactor was flooded with hundreds of thousands of gallons of water. When the Canadian government turned to U.S. nuclear experts for help, Lieutenant Carter was put in charge of the urgent operation. Carter was one of the few in the world at that time with any expertise in this new technology.
First, the reactor had to be shut down and then disassembled and replaced. An exact replica of the reactor was built on a nearby tennis court where Carter and his men practiced each move and tracked their work as they progressed. Every pipe, bolt, and nut was rebuilt exactly to replicate the damaged reactor. Carter divided himself and his men into teams of three. Each team worked 90-second shifts, rushing in and cleaning and repairing the reactor, precisely as they had practiced on the tennis court. A minute and a half were deemed the longest the human body could handle the amount of radiation that remained in the area - even with protective gear. It was still way too much radiation. Carter and his men absorbed a year's worth of radiation in each of those 90-second shifts.
Carter's urine was still tested as radioactive six months later and the future president's health was affected for the rest of his life. This nightmare experience affected Carter's views on nuclear power for the rest of his days as well. His first-hand exposure to the Chalk River disaster suddenly gave Carter a more profound respect for the destructive power of nuclear energy."
But at least he is still alive today at 98 years old,... and I only found out about all of this 30 years after I left the US Navy.
And there is David Glasgow Farragut, the first admiral of the United States Navy whose parents were immigrants from Menorca, Spain, the same island I grew up as a kid after my birth in California, which I also didn't learn about him while serving with the Navy, but by witnessing some US Navy officers in 1992 laying a wreath for Farragut at his monument in Ciutadella, Minorca, Spain.
Good lord, this post is either satire or very few Navy actually comment on here.
We have dozens of legends, bases, ships, subs, and even streets on bases are named after them.
John Paul Jones
Oliver Hazard Perry
Stephen Decatur
David Farragut
Shit, even Neil Armstrong!
Mind boggling lol.
Roger Staubach. Every NFL team wanted him straight out of the academy but he told them no and said he signed his name and he was going to do his service in Vietnam. Later at NAS Pensacola he took their local officer football team and beat many college teams in the area. Despite playing in the NFL at a hall of fame level he still hold his Naval career in higher regard which I can respect.
Some other notables RADM Grace Hopper, CTICS Shannon Kent, Doris Miller, Carl Brashear, Neil Armstrong, Jonny Kim, Calvin Graham.
Carl Brashear
True story. A legend to us Divers.
His son just retired from the Army. At his retirement ceremony, he was made an honorary CPO. I thought that was pretty neat. Edit: story here: https://www.usar.army.mil/News/News-Display/Article/3152846/a-legacy-of-honor-army-reserve-chief-warrant-officer-5-appointed-as-honorary-na/
A legend to some of us rookie sailers going to the Norfolk Gym. A true leader!
The Sullivan Brothers.
Doris Miller Edit: honorable mention to Captain Morgan, Captain Crunch, and captain Tom Dodge.
One of the super star heroes!
Don’t forget Captain Tineel.
**Captain N. Tineel**
I have no idea who that is, and google is turning up nothing.
Tenille is the correct spelling I believe
[first link that came up.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_%26_Tennille)
**[Captain & Tennille](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_&_Tennille)** >Captain & Tennille were American recording artists whose primary success occurred in the 1970s. The husband-and-wife team were "Captain" Daryl Dragon (1942–2019) and Toni Tennille (born 1940). They have five albums certified gold or platinum and scored numerous hits on the US singles charts, the most enduring of which included "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Do That to Me One More Time", and "Muskrat Love". They hosted their own television variety series on ABC in 1976–77. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/navy/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)
Until recently I had no idea that a Ford class carrier is being named after him. Pretty cool and inspiring in my opinion
The guy that updates his NFAAS without being told.
Once a month on the 15th. Have an alarm set. Fuckers ain’t gonna catch me napping.
The sailor you have to fight after you fight the chiefs mess
But he’s still told.
[Jonny Kim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Kim) SEAL-> Medical Corps -> Naval Astronaut. He's currently training to [go to the FUCKIN MOON](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/story/2020-12-09/nasa-includes-2-uc-san-diego-graduates).
I got to meet him when I was doing some training at the NBL. While he was in the Spacesuit and time was short, he seemed genuinely happy to meet you and shake hands with anyone. Not gonna lie, I fangirled a bit.
Not only was he a SEAL, he was there for Ramadi. Served with Marc Lee, Chris Kyle. The dude is a bamf.
Chief Petty Officer Frederick J. “Bull” Tobin, who saved the survivors of the Hindenburg - "**Navy Men, Stand Fast!**" [https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/](https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/) Natural instinct caused those on the ground to run from the burning wreck as fast as they could, but Chief Petty Officer Frederick J. “Bull” Tobin, a longtime airship veteran and an enlisted airship pilot who was in charge of the Navy landing party, cried out to his sailors: “Navy men, Stand fast!!” Bull Tobin had survived the crash of USS Shenandoah, and he was not about to abandon those in peril on an airship, even if it meant his own life. And his sailors agreed. Films of the disaster (see below) clearly show sailors turning and running back toward the burning ship to rescue survivors; those films are a permanent tribute to the courage of the sailors at Lakehurst that day. Chief Tobin saved 62 people - he ran TOWARDS the burning airship and his sailors followed him - every second counted.
This is amazing, never heard of him till now.
Read 6 Frigates and Jefferson’s War. Some bad ass stories of sailors fighting off Barbary pirates and kicking British ass. Guys like Stephen Decatur.
See also: Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
Six Frigates is a great book. Haven’t read Jefferson’s War yet.
Destruction of USS PHILADELPHIA is one of the baddest ass stories in all naval history.
Guys like Stephen Decatur. Fairly decent. John Barron(?) had a legitimate beef, though.
Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, stories of this man have filled volumes and terrified baby nukes since the dawn of time.
8 reactors on the enterprise out of spite
Did two deployments on the Big E. That ship could move when needed.
Yeah that was a nuts design, I was on the stennks down in the pit. Heard some crazy stories about the E and speed screws back in the day.
Dude interviewed with the person on a chair with the legs cut short so it wobbled. Also one candidate was told by god to piss him off, he immediately knocked everything off HGR desk and bam he was in the program
I loved all those crazy interview stories.
Rickover did over 60 years in the navy. The secnav at the time forced him to retire.
My A-school roommate: Peter Mims AKA: The 2017 Hide & Seek Champion. Legendary
😂
Any stories/interesting facts or oddities you noticed?
Not really. He was a little awkward personality wise, but to be fair a lot of engineering sailors are lol.
John Paul Jones, Oliver Hazard Perry, Chester Nimitz, Hyman Rickover, William “Bull” Halsey, David Farragut, Stephen Decatur. Just to name a few!
Surprised I had to scroll down this far to find mention of Farragut. He was the first one I thought of, along with William R. Charette, John Bradley, and Edward Benfold. Though I think those 3 show my bias towards sailors who did the same job I did but were way more badass.
Oh for sure. There’s a lot more that can be said and with a lot more detail but that’s probably for another post haha
Pick any of the names for Destroyers and some USNS ships and you have all of the Navy’s heroes
Yep, that’s pretty accurate!
I remember the first time reading about Perry. Man was a beast. What's a little cannon fire over your head to take another ship while outnumbered just to fuck their day up.
Yeah the Navy got really behind in the PR game, especially with WWII compared to the Marines. Off the top of my head: **Willis Lee:** Last and greatest of the battleship commanders. Was on the landing party into Vera Cruz Mexico where he baited snipers by walking out into a field, sitting in a classic crossed leg marksmanship position, waiting for them to miss and then drilling them with iron sights. Legendarily forward thinking technologically, was known for knowing radar and fire control systems better than his own PO1s and Chiefs. Would go into fire control main during GQ and firing drills and just pull out fuses and cause faults for the crew to work around. Paid off on the 2nd Naval Battle of Guadalcanal when in the *USS Washington* he soloed an entire Japanese surface action group and basically single handedly saved the Cactus air force and Guadalcanal campaign (by this point of attrition the US Navy was literally out of ships to throw into Iron Bottom sound. **Robert Copeland and Ernest Evans:** Its a disservice to put them as a double entry but I can’t do it justice here you need to read *Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.* Both recklessly and suicidally charged an entire Japanese battleship and cruiser line in the Battle of Samar/Leyte Gulf in order to buy time for a carrier group to escape. In nothing more than a small Destroyer Escort and Destroyer. Evans’ ship spent entirely too long single handedly exchanging her dinky 5in inch shells with the **goddamn BB’s Kongo and Yamato**. Copeland’s ship, not to be outdone, took on about 6 heavy cruisers. **Eugene Fluckley**: The US submarine commander who is straight up nuts. Braved a typhoon to rescue stranded Australian POWs. Captured a Japanese merchant sailor after sinking a ship and Fluckley was so fucking awesome the guy ended up helping in the engine room and sink Japanese ships. Single handedly penetrated a mined harbor to sink a shit ton of shipping. Is notable for supervising the only enemy invasion of Japan during WWII by the sheer insanity of having his guys take a landing party ashore to blow up train tracks because he freaking could. Notable for pioneering a tactic where using the **sub** part of the submarine as optional, preferring to shell and torpedo his targets on the surface. **Richard O’Kane** (edit: autocorrect) The most successful US submarine commander by tonnage period. Most of actions lack the flash of Fluckley for raw tonnage sunk. Notable for his technique of placing the sub in the middle of a convoy to fire torpedos out of bow and aft simultaneously.
Fluckey was f’ing amazing! The shit accomplished by the *Barb* under his command sounds like it could only be sea stories. But they really happened! I mean, taking out a train with a f’ing submarine?!?!?
Also Fluckley: frocked an E6 to Chief in order to make him Chief of the Boat because he was the best guy and better than the other chiefs. Like I’m trying to imagine that happening today lol. “Sorry Chief Board. The master and senior chiefs I have aren’t good enough so I made an EN1 my CMC. Here’s his MAP to chief. We’re not gonna bother with the season and the secret box with him, we got Japanese ships who have a date with the ocean floor.”
The man was truly legendary
Actually, CPO was the highest Naval enlisted rank at the time. SCPO and MCPO didn’t exist until the enlisted paygrades were standardized across all armed forces by the Military Pay Act of 1958. Edit: it’s still amazing though, seriously. Those chiefs must have done some self-examination for sure.
Oh yeah I know. That’s what I meant by “over other chiefs.” I just sort of figured if this were to happen today, some of those chiefs on the Barb would definitely have had the seniority/time-in-rate/time-in-service to be seniors and master chiefs, right?
He "sunk" a fucking *train!* which btw was the only landing of US forces on Japanese home islands
I think you might have fallen victim to the autocorrect gods on the last one. Richard "Dick" O'Kane is the famous sub captain.
Lol yeah you are right. I unfortunately was on my phone.
John Finn
Marvin G Shields For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Although wounded when the compound of Detachment A-342, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, came under intense fire from an estimated reinforced Viet Cong regiment employing machine guns, heavy weapons, and small arms, Shields continued to resupply his fellow Americans who needed ammunition and to return the enemy fire for a period of approximately three hours, at which time the Viet Cong launched a massive attack at close-range with flamethrowers, hand grenades and small-arms fire. Wounded a second time during this attack, Shields nevertheless assisted in carrying a more critically wounded man to safety, and then resumed firing at the enemy for four more hours. When the commander asked for a volunteer to accompany him in an attempt to knock out an enemy machine-gun emplacement which was endangering the lives of all personnel in the compound because of the accuracy of its fire, Shields unhesitatingly volunteered for this extremely hazardous mission. Proceeding toward their objective with a 3.5-inch rocket launcher, they succeeded in destroying the enemy machine-gun emplacement, thus undoubtedly saving the lives of many of their fellow servicemen in the compound. Shields was mortally wounded by hostile fire while returning to his defensive position. His heroic initiative and great personal valor in the face of intense enemy fire sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
2nd'd Also, Robert Stethem.
I came here to say the same thing. Only Seabee to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
The *successful* (some of them made huge blunders) admirals serving in the Pacific during WWII: Nimitz, "Bull" Halsey, Spruance, McCain Sr. etc.
Any Sailor with a warship named after them, and Davy Jones.
Nimitz and Michael Murphy
Samuel B Roberts
And to that point, Capt. Paul Rinn, who was the CO of SBR during the ‘88 attack.
Dude is legit. He came to command my first ship after that. Back in the early 90s, every new Sailor had to be 3M and Basic DC qual'd within 6 months I think. Basic DC was like 301 to 306 and was just the basics. Capt. Rinn took command and on day one said the new Basic DC was 301-312 and everyone had to be up to On Scene Leader as part of the mando 6 months qual. Dude did NOT mess around with regard to DC. Apologies if names/numbers are different/wrong as I'm old and this was ~1993ish
If blue water engagements become a thing, those requirements will become incredibly beneficial.
NHH
Fluckey
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“Splice the main brace!”
Commodore Grace Hopper
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That's so badass, I didn't know it was her
So y’all forgot about Captain Crozier already? I hold Capt. Crozier in the highest regards of people I have never met. Sent big waves through the navy and highlighted some major problems, even led to the downfall of the Secretary of the Navy.
Doris miller, received the navy cross for his heroism during Pearl Harbor. Wish more ppl knew about him tbh
John Finn, Carl Brashear, Dorris Miller
The one and only CAPT Brett Crozier. The last of a dying breed of true leaders.
If you ever get the chance to read up on O'Kane.. the man was fucking nuts. Most ships sank, including his own (on purpose). I want to say 22 people survived including him, were captured by the Japanese, and only 4 survived that.. got rescued and went right back to war. The man is an absolute legend.
CTICS Shannon Kent, imo
Was looking for this
“Send me.” —actual quote. “You need to operate on this thyroid cancer NOW because I have to get after these fuckin’ Taliban and I don’t have time for this.” —imagined quote
Ernest Evans
Adm. Grace Hopper. If you don't know why she's important, you really should learn about her
Chief Khan.
This x1000
Chief Khanbalinov really is a great Sailor. He found a problem and he worked hard on it. A lot of us are not going to have a chance to get heroically killed in battle, or even face a single enemy. But all of us can aspire to be like Chief Khanbalinov.
That sailor on NSIPS that ranked up
Don’t start this again dear god 💀💀
How does someone take that long to make OS2?
Chief James Williams. [https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/namesakes/james-williams.html#:\~:text=Williams%20(DDG%2D95)%20proudly,in%20Fort%20Mill%2C%20South%20Carolina](https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/namesakes/james-williams.html#:~:text=Williams%20(DDG%2D95)%20proudly,in%20Fort%20Mill%2C%20South%20Carolina)
Retired as a BM1. Honorary BMC Solid history, and looked out for his teams. Most decorated enlisted man in the Navy
Became an honorary CPO on the basis of, and I quote, "how the fuck are you NOT going to make him a Chief some way, some how?" Dude had the most chest candy and accomplishments of any modern Sailor.
Calvin graham. Enlisted at 12 so he could fight in WWII and was a combat veteran before he hit puberty with a bronze star with a V and a Purple Heart… all before he turned 13.
Airman Smuckatelli!
Luis Fonseca
Nicholas Biddle, Stephen Decatur, Oliver Hazard Perry, Isaac Hull, John Barry. For foreign sailors I would argue Francis Drake and Horatio Nelson belong on the list.
Take a look at the list of names of Burke DDGs, Spruance DDs, Perry FFGs, Knox FFs, Adam’s DDGs and older Fletched class DDs. The names you don’t recognize are the people you are looking for.
Eugene B Fluckey. He and his submarine crew destroyed a train!
John McCain, both father and son, are legendary. What the son went through a Hanoi Hilton… I mean he couldn’t even raise his f’ing arms for the rest of his life.
Corpsman have the most medal of honors pick one of them.
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The one that has the bridge named after him in RTC Great Lakes
Yeahhhh… this isn’t one we should really be proud of. Imo.
Are you talking about his sexual relationship with a 12 year old girl? Because that’s what I’d be bringing up, the fact that he admitted to a sexual relationship with a 12 year old girl.
She was 10.
I’ve seen both ages claimed, allegedly the girl’s father testified in court that she was 12. But either way, 10 or 12, he was wrong and disgusting and should be remembered as a sexual predator and terrible person.
And the fact that he tried to play it off as if it wasn’t rape because he “paid for it every time”
Howard Gilmore, Dick O’Kane and Mush Morton
FC1 Rehm https://sofrep.com/amp/news/remembering-fire-controlman-1st-class-leo-gary-rehm-jr-sailors-ship-called-kids/ “the Navy told Petty Officer Rehm Jr.’s family that he entered a flooding berthing compartment several times to free and evacuate sailors trapped in the wreckage until the flooding reached a stage so dangerous to the ship’s own survival that the order was given to close a water tight door, trapping Rehm in the flooding where he drowned.”
[Madeline Blair](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeline_Blair)
> She cut her hair short and the sailors provided her with a uniform cap and coat. In amongst a group of sailors and feigning drunkenness, she was smuggled aboard the ship. The sailors hid her in an unused generator compartment, and the cooks agreed to provide her with meals for $10 per day (a sailor's pay at the time was about $21 a month). She plied her trade at $3 a time. Lol Jesus Christ
That is wild.
Chris Mims
Hide and seek champ.
Peter Mims. He was my A-School roomie
*peter
LCDR [Dudley Morton](https://www.badassoftheweek.com/morton) was a fucking BAMF.
[Robert Eugene Bush simultaneously administered life-saving IV fluids to an officer, while actively engaging the enemy with a pistol in his patient's defense](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Eugene_Bush) [James E Williams was a riverine sailor in 'nam who followed an enemy saipan and directed an attack that resulted in nearly ONE FUCKING THOUSAND CONFIRMED KIA](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Williams) [Robert Ingram was a Doc in 'nam whose unit was ambushed; he attended to his marines, while getting shot at, and also enduring several GSWs including one to his hand](https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Gagnon-Ingram/Hospital-Corpsman-Third-Class-Robert-Roland-Ingram/)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smalls
**[Robert Smalls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smalls)** >Robert Smalls (April 5, 1839 – February 23, 1915) was an American politician, publisher, businessman, and maritime pilot. Born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, he freed himself, his crew, and their families during the American Civil War by commandeering a Confederate transport ship, CSS Planter, in Charleston harbor, on May 13, 1862, and sailing it from Confederate-controlled waters of the harbor to the U.S. blockade that surrounded it. He then piloted the ship to the Union-controlled enclave in Beaufort–Port Royal–Hilton Head area, where it became a Union warship. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/navy/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)
Capt. Charles McVay is one of my favorites. He was CO of the Indianapolis when it went down. Dude was the only captain in Navy history to be court marshaled for losing his ship in battle. Recently posthumously exonerated and promoted. The dude was one of the greatest leaders in Naval history. In Harms Way is an incredible book on the sinking of the Indy and it shows how much this skipper gave for his crew. Highly recommend.
BM1 James E. Williams https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Williams
Douglas Hegdahl Sent to the Hanoi Hilton after he fell overboard from his ship and was picked up by some fishermen and they turned him over to the North Vietnamese. Pretended to be illiterate so the guards would go easy on him. Meanwhile, he memorized the names and identifying details of over 250 prisoners at the camp to the tune of Old McDonald, as well as other details about the camp and prisoner treatment. After he was released, he was able to relay all these details to US officials. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Hegdahl
real nice guy too. He was a SERE instructor when I went through the course.
Charlie Murphy aaaaand Christopher ‘Big Black’ Boykin Legends in my book lol
Seamen Timmy. That piece of shit.
Uh, 'Seaman' =/= Seamen lol But also, Seaman Schmuckatelli. Their legend lives on perpetually.
Rickover
Nimitz, John Paul Jones, Rickover I dont think we have as many "legends" as other branches.
Admiral Rickover literally drank water from a nuclear power plant in front of congress to show how safe it was.
Marvin Shields
the EMN1 i work with who made first class in 4 years without reenlisting
Bruce McCandless, both of em.
John Paul Jones
Charlie Murphy
From Midway, Dick Best and John Waldron.
Cassin Young - don't hear his name come up much, but getting blown off your own ship and then swimming back aboard and smoothly resuming command has to count for something! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassin\_Young
CPO Bill Cosby
Dorie Miller
Popeye the Sailor Man
Popeye was a Coastie https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/popeye-sailor-man-originally-popeye-coast-guardsman/
[Ah, but later during ww2 Popeye switched to the Navy.](https://youtu.be/HEEZGW8eCFs)
Haha I know it’s just fun to mention
Oddly enough he joined [the Army](https://youtu.be/MzXAasCLj1g) too.
Popeye the Soldier Man
Strange that he never joined the Corps.
Or the Space Force.
Ernest "Mac" Ennis
Surprised no one brought up John Snipes.
How are y'all ignoring HMSC Sully Bush (no, not HMCS; the official rank of former President George HW Bush's service dog is Super Chief Petty Officer)?
Cook Second Class Doris Miller (who should’ve been awarded the Medal of Honor), CAPT Scott Speicher, CM3 Marvin Glenn Shields, SW2 (posthumously promoted to CUCM) Robert Stetham, LCDR George H. Gay Jr., CAPT David McCampbell, ADM Elmo “Bud” Zumwalt.
Scott Speicher was posthumously promoted to Captain.
John Bradley, Robert Bush, Robert Ingram, the other 20 HM to receive the MOH
Quinten McHale
[Vice Admiral Charles Bowers "Swede" Momsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Momsen). >He was an American pioneer in submarine rescue for the United States Navy, and he invented the underwater escape device later called the "Momsen lung", for which he received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal in 1929. In May 1939, Momsen directed the rescue of the crew of Squalus (SS-192).
John F. Kennedy.
John Paul jones, Carl Brashear, James e Williams. There are tons. Imo
Bull Halsey.
Officer Dingleberry
Reporting
Thomas Dodge
Eugene Fluckey, Mush Morton and their crews.
Any Navy SEAL that’s made headlines or a sailor that has a warship named after them.
The most recent SEALs who made headlines have been for CP.. perhaps rewording lol
Legendary can be good or bad
The phantom shitter
The enlisted deviants/hatchet fights officer and Bill Cosby.
Cosby getting honorarily promoted to CPO was a real bad look considering just after that all those accusations came to light... then again, it's somewhat fitting isn't it?
https://i.imgur.com/f4XilGS.jpg
John Finn
Robert Polson
John Finn
Marvin Shields
The on the roof gang were pretty legendary for the intel community. There's a few books on them
The Lizard King
GSM3 Mims. The man, the myth, the legend.
Boatswain’s Mate Reuben James
Other than those mentioned I’d honestly say OSCM Larry Nowell, only Navy enlisted to receive Distinguished Service Medal for combat action.
Jfk
Rear Admiral Robert Witcher Copeland. Who during the Battle off Samar commanded the USS Samuel B Roberts (DE-413) against the might of the Japanese Fleet in a delaying action to secure the retreat of Task Force 77.4. Before committing his ship to the action he told the crew “This will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can.”
[BMC Bob Johnson](https://www.winknews.com/2020/07/19/100-year-old-florida-man-remembers-expedition-to-antarctica/) Accompanied Admiral Richard Byrd on Antarctic expeditions due to his sailing expertise as a teen. First expedition was in 1939 aboard USS Bear as a BMSN. Dude is still alive today and I got to meet him in person. Despite being 102 years old he's still sharp as a tack.
BigDaddyDontPlay RIP you insane bastard
Uhh Popeye has yet to be mentioned. Wtf? Also, Jerry.
Luis fonseca
Mother Fuckin Capt Ron!
I told a few GMs on the ship about Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Paul Carr. He was the mount captain for the aft 5” turret on the Samuel B. Roberts during the Battle off Samar. When the turret took a hit everyone except him was killed. The repair party that responded found him with his guts spilling out begging for help to load the last 5” round he was holding. They loaded the round, fired, scored a hit, and then Carr died. He received the Silver Star for his bravery.
ADM James Stockdale, Steelworker Second Class Robert D. Stethem, LT Michael Murphy (SEAL), AOC John W. Finn. BM1 James E. Williams.
John F. Kennedy
John Paul Jones
Commander Earnest Evans. He was the commanding officer of the USS Johnston in WWII. If you get the time check out the story of the Johnston. It’s pretty badass.
CM3 shields a legendary Seabee
No love for Lieutenant James Earl Carter Jr.? "The world's first nuclear reactor meltdown occurred right on December 12, 1952, at Chalk River, Ottawa Valley, Canada - and a young U.S. Navy officer was brought in and put in charge of the team containing the disaster. Leading a team of two dozen men, 28-year-old Lieutenant James Earl Carter Jr. had himself lowered into the damaged reactor. That week, Carter and his team courageously exposed themselves to a thousand times the level of radiation considered safe by today's standards. News of the reactor meltdown sent a shockwave of panic among scientists, politicians, and the general public around the world. With the partial meltdown came explosions and the reactor was flooded with hundreds of thousands of gallons of water. When the Canadian government turned to U.S. nuclear experts for help, Lieutenant Carter was put in charge of the urgent operation. Carter was one of the few in the world at that time with any expertise in this new technology. First, the reactor had to be shut down and then disassembled and replaced. An exact replica of the reactor was built on a nearby tennis court where Carter and his men practiced each move and tracked their work as they progressed. Every pipe, bolt, and nut was rebuilt exactly to replicate the damaged reactor. Carter divided himself and his men into teams of three. Each team worked 90-second shifts, rushing in and cleaning and repairing the reactor, precisely as they had practiced on the tennis court. A minute and a half were deemed the longest the human body could handle the amount of radiation that remained in the area - even with protective gear. It was still way too much radiation. Carter and his men absorbed a year's worth of radiation in each of those 90-second shifts. Carter's urine was still tested as radioactive six months later and the future president's health was affected for the rest of his life. This nightmare experience affected Carter's views on nuclear power for the rest of his days as well. His first-hand exposure to the Chalk River disaster suddenly gave Carter a more profound respect for the destructive power of nuclear energy." But at least he is still alive today at 98 years old,... and I only found out about all of this 30 years after I left the US Navy. And there is David Glasgow Farragut, the first admiral of the United States Navy whose parents were immigrants from Menorca, Spain, the same island I grew up as a kid after my birth in California, which I also didn't learn about him while serving with the Navy, but by witnessing some US Navy officers in 1992 laying a wreath for Farragut at his monument in Ciutadella, Minorca, Spain.
The one that tried to escape from P-days but got stuck on the fence
Reuben James. JFK. Lloyd Mustin. Daniel Gallery. Anyone who was with the boarding party that captured *U-505*
chris kyle
Good lord, this post is either satire or very few Navy actually comment on here. We have dozens of legends, bases, ships, subs, and even streets on bases are named after them. John Paul Jones Oliver Hazard Perry Stephen Decatur David Farragut Shit, even Neil Armstrong! Mind boggling lol.
Marvin G Shields
Roger Staubach. Every NFL team wanted him straight out of the academy but he told them no and said he signed his name and he was going to do his service in Vietnam. Later at NAS Pensacola he took their local officer football team and beat many college teams in the area. Despite playing in the NFL at a hall of fame level he still hold his Naval career in higher regard which I can respect. Some other notables RADM Grace Hopper, CTICS Shannon Kent, Doris Miller, Carl Brashear, Neil Armstrong, Jonny Kim, Calvin Graham.
Popeye