Morton, Dudley Walker
- Date of birth:
- July 17th, 1907 (Owensboro/Kentucky, United States)
- Date of death:
- October 11th, 1943 (Le Perouse Straights, Pacific Ocean)
- Nationality:
- American (1776 - present, Republic)
Biography
Graduated Naval Academy 1926. Morton served in the carrier USS Saratoga, and the heavy cruiser USS Chicago. In 1933 Dudley trained to serve in Submarines, and was Commanding Officer of the small boat R5. In 1942, he was appointed as a Lieutenant Commander to take command of the submarine USS Wahoo, making five patrols in her, the last one proving fatal. The first of these, ex Brisbane Australia, and all the other patrols from his base at Pearl Harbor.
On his last patrol near Japan he sank four ships of the Japanese cargo fleet. However, the Japanese also reported a successful anti-submarine attack in the La Pérouse Strait on 11 October. Their target was undoubtedly Wahoo, lost with her entire crew while finishing the active portion of her seventh war patrol.
Dudley Morton's was credited with sinking 19 ships to total 55,000 tons.
Service Number: 0-063274.
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Navy Cross
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant Commander
- Unit:
- USS Wahoo (SS-238) U.S. Navy
- Awarded on:
- June 21st, 1943
"The Navy Cross is presented to Dudley Walker Morton (0-063274), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. WAHOO (SS-238) on the Third War Patrol of that submarine during the period 16 January 1943 to 7 February 1943, in enemy controlled waters of Pacific War Area during action against enemy Japanese forces which resulted in the sinking of 31,890 tons of enemy shipping. Ingeniously devising an improvised chart of a little known hostile territory, Lieutenant Commander Morton, displaying fearless initiative, utilized the chart as his guide and entered hazardous waters where he attacked and sank an enemy destroyer. Later, he engaged an unescorted Japanese convoy in a fourteen-hour running battle and, tirelessly pursuing his objective in the face of heavy gunfire, successfully accomplished the destruction of four important vessels. His inspiring leadership, keen judgment, and daring aggressiveness were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Serial 32
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant Commander
- Unit:
- U.S.S. Wahoo (SS-238), U.S. Navy (U.S.S. Wahoo (SS-238), U.S. Navy)
- Awarded on:
- April 22nd, 1943
Citation:
The Navy Cross (First Gold Star) is presented to Dudley Walker Morton (0-063274), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. WAHOO (SS- 238) on the Fourth War Patrol of that submarine during the period 23 February 1943 to 6 April 1943, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the East China Sea. During vital operations in an extremely hazardous area, Commander Morton directed the effective torpedo and gunfire of his ship with outstanding professional skill and excellent judgment accounting for eight enemy vessels, a trawler and two sampans, a total of 36,693 tons, as well as damaging a 5,973-ton freighter. The brilliant leadership and valiant devotion to duty displayed by Commander Morton throughout the entire period of action reflect great credit upon his command and the United States Naval Service.
Received as a Gold Star on the ribbon of the first Navy Cross.
Serial 0938.
The Navy Cross (First Gold Star) is presented to Dudley Walker Morton (0-063274), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. WAHOO (SS- 238) on the Fourth War Patrol of that submarine during the period 23 February 1943 to 6 April 1943, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the East China Sea. During vital operations in an extremely hazardous area, Commander Morton directed the effective torpedo and gunfire of his ship with outstanding professional skill and excellent judgment accounting for eight enemy vessels, a trawler and two sampans, a total of 36,693 tons, as well as damaging a 5,973-ton freighter. The brilliant leadership and valiant devotion to duty displayed by Commander Morton throughout the entire period of action reflect great credit upon his command and the United States Naval Service.
Received as a Gold Star on the ribbon of the first Navy Cross.
Serial 0938.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant Commander
- Unit:
- U.S.S. Wahoo (SS-238), U.S. Navy (U.S.S. Wahoo (SS-238), U.S. Navy)
- Awarded on:
- July 11th, 1943
Citation:
The Navy Cross (Second Gold Star) is presented to Dudley Walker Morton (0-063274), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. WAHOO (SS-238) on the Fifth War Patrol of that submarine during the period 25 April 1943 to 21 May 1943, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the hostile waters of the Sea of Japan. With outstanding skill and courage, Commander Morton delivered aggressive torpedo attacks against hostile vessels and succeeded in damaging or sinking a large amount of enemy shipping. His daring leadership and indomitable fighting spirit and the gallant devotion to duty of his command were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Received as a Gold Star on the ribbon of the first Navy Cross.
Serial 01623.
The Navy Cross (Second Gold Star) is presented to Dudley Walker Morton (0-063274), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. WAHOO (SS-238) on the Fifth War Patrol of that submarine during the period 25 April 1943 to 21 May 1943, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the hostile waters of the Sea of Japan. With outstanding skill and courage, Commander Morton delivered aggressive torpedo attacks against hostile vessels and succeeded in damaging or sinking a large amount of enemy shipping. His daring leadership and indomitable fighting spirit and the gallant devotion to duty of his command were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Received as a Gold Star on the ribbon of the first Navy Cross.
Serial 01623.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant Commander
- Unit:
- U.S.S. Wahoo (SS-238), U.S. Navy (U.S.S. Wahoo (SS-238), U.S. Navy)
- Awarded on:
- December 2nd, 1943
Citation:
The Navy Cross (Third Gold Star) is presented to Dudley Walker Morton (0-063274), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. WAHOO (SS- 238) on the Seventh War Patrol of that submarine during the period 9 September 1943 to 11 October 1943, in action against enemy vessels in the Sea of Japan. With the utmost skill and daring, Commander Morton conducted three highly successful war patrols in Japanese-controlled waters, inflicting heavy losses on enemy shipping, and, courageously entering dangerous, confined and shallow waters on a subsequent vital mission, accomplished the complete destruction of at least one important hostile ship. Commander Morton's brilliant tactical ability and inspiring leadership throughout these extremely hazardous operations reflect great credit upon himself, his command and the Unites States Naval Service.
Awarded as a Gold Star on the ribbon of the first Navy Cross.
His fourth Navy Cross was awarded pothumously.
Serial 0085.
The Navy Cross (Third Gold Star) is presented to Dudley Walker Morton (0-063274), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. WAHOO (SS- 238) on the Seventh War Patrol of that submarine during the period 9 September 1943 to 11 October 1943, in action against enemy vessels in the Sea of Japan. With the utmost skill and daring, Commander Morton conducted three highly successful war patrols in Japanese-controlled waters, inflicting heavy losses on enemy shipping, and, courageously entering dangerous, confined and shallow waters on a subsequent vital mission, accomplished the complete destruction of at least one important hostile ship. Commander Morton's brilliant tactical ability and inspiring leadership throughout these extremely hazardous operations reflect great credit upon himself, his command and the Unites States Naval Service.
Awarded as a Gold Star on the ribbon of the first Navy Cross.
His fourth Navy Cross was awarded pothumously.
Serial 0085.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant Commander
- Unit:
- Commanding Officer U.S.S. Wahoo (SS-238)
- Awarded on:
- 1943
Citation:
"The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Dudley Walker Morton (0-63274), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. WAHOO (SS-238), in action against enemy forces in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period 24 -to 26 January 1943. Commander Morton's daring leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and brilliant tactical ability reflected the greatest credit on himself, the U.S.S. WAHOO, and the United States Navy."
South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 16 (1943).
"The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Dudley Walker Morton (0-63274), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. WAHOO (SS-238), in action against enemy forces in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period 24 -to 26 January 1943. Commander Morton's daring leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and brilliant tactical ability reflected the greatest credit on himself, the U.S.S. WAHOO, and the United States Navy."
South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 16 (1943).
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo: Us Naval Historical Center
- - Recipients of The Navy Cross, 1916 - Present, by
C. Douglas Sterner
- Ahoy, Mac's Weblog
- Us Naval Historical Center
- On Eternal Patrol
- Home of Heroes
Photo
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