Howard Walter Gilmore, USN
| Born | 29 Sep 1902 | Selma, Alabama, USA | |
| Died | 7 Feb 1943 | (40) | USS Growler (SS-215) |
 Howard Walter Gilmore | Ranks
Decorations
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Warship Commands listed for Howard Walter Gilmore, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS S-48 (159) | Submarine | Jan 1941 | Dec 1941 | |
| USS Growler (215) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 20 Mar 1942 | 7 Feb 1943 (+) |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine USS Growler (215)
6 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore, USN) departed New London, Connecticut and arrived Newport, Rhode Island.
9 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Having completed her torpedo trials, USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore, USN), returned to New London, Connecticut from Newport, Rhode Island.
5 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore, USN) departed New London, Connecticut for the Panama Canal Zone.
15 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore, USN) transited the Panama Canal and arrived at Balboa.
29 Jun 1942
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. Howard Walter Gilmore) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in Alaskan waters.
5 Jul 1942 (position 52.00, 177.40)
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) torpedoed and sank the Japanese destroyer Arare (offsite link) and damaged the Japanese destroyers Kasumi (offsite link) and Shiranuhi (offsite link) off Kiska, Aleutians in position 52°00'N, 177°40'E.
17 Jul 1942
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) ended her 1st war patrol at Pearl Harbor.
5 Aug 1942
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Formosa.
25 Aug 1942 (position 22.33, 120.10)
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) torpedoed and sank the Japanese auxiliary gunboat Senyo Maru (2904 GRT) about 20 nautical miles south of Takao, Formosa in position 22°33'N, 120°10'E.
31 Aug 1942 (position 25.43, 122.38)
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant Eifuku Maru (5866 GRT) in Formosa Strait in position 25°43'N, 122°38'E.
4 Sep 1942 (position 25.43, 122.38)
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) torpedoed and sank the Japanese ammunition ship Kashino (10360 tons) in Formosa Straits about 50 nautical miles north-east of Keelung, Formosa in position 25°43'N, 122°38'E.
7 Sep 1942 (position 25.31, 121.38)
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant Taika Maru (2204 GRT) about 25 nautical miles north-west of Keelung, Formosa in position 25°31'N, 121°38'E.
30 Sep 1942
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) ended her 2nd war patrol at Pearl Harbor.
23 Oct 1942
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Solomon Islands area.
10 Dec 1942
USS Growler (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) ended her 3rd war patrol at Brisbane, Australia.
1 Jan 1943
USS Growler (Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) departed from Brisbane for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Truk-Rabaul shipping lanes.
16 Jan 1943
USS Growler (Cdr. H.W. Gilmore) torpedoed and sank the Japanese passenger/cargo ship Chifuku Maru (5857 GRT) about 10 nautical miles north of Waton Island in position 04°00'S, 151°55'E.
7 Feb 1943 (position -3.34, 151.09)
USS Growler is damaged by accidental ramming of the Japanese store ship Hayasaki and gunfire from the same vessel about 70 nautical miles northwest of Rabaul in position 03°34'S, 151°09'E. During this action, Growler's commanding officer, Cdr Howard Walter Gilmore, is mortally wounded and 2 others killed and 2 wounded. Rather than further hazard his ship, he orders Growler taken down. For his gallantry, Gilmore is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
Citation: For distinguished gallantry and valor above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Growler during her Fourth War Patrol in the Southwest Pacific from 10 January to 7 February 1943. Boldly striking at the enemy in spite of continuous hostile air and antisubmarine patrols, Comdr. Gilmore sank one Japanese freighter and damaged another by torpedo fire, successfully evading severe depth charges following each attack. In the darkness of night on 7 February, an enemy gunboat closed range and prepared to ram the Growler. Comdr. Gilmore daringly maneuvered to avoid the crash and rammed the attacker instead, ripping into her port side at 11 knots and bursting wide her plates. In the terrific fire of the sinking gunboat's heavy machineguns, Comdr. Gilmore calmly gave the order to clear the bridge, and refusing safety for himself, remained on deck while his men preceded him below. Struck down by the fusillade of bullets and having done his utmost against the enemy, in his final living moments, Comdr. Gilmore gave his last order to the officer of the deck, "Take her down." The Growler dived; seriously damaged but under control, she was brought safely to port by her well-trained crew inspired by the courageous fighting spirit of their dead captain.
The XO (Lt.Cdr. Arnold Frederick Schade) takes over command and Growler is forced to terminate her patrol. She entered Brisbane on 17 February for repairs.
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