SubmarineSailor.com Sea Stories - Dick O'Kane's Home Project

Cdr. Dick O'Kane's Home Project
by R. M. Stroud, ENFN(SS) USS Amberjack SS-522

It was the Summer of 1952 and we (two good buddies and myself from Texas) were in submarine school at New London. It was a Saturday morning with nothing to do, no duty, no jobs, just a free day, and the three of us and a Yankee from Boston were sitting around the barracks trying to decide how to make the most of our day off. About then, a chief walks in and says, "I need some guys to help an officer with a home project and you four look like you'll do".

After the usual moaning and groaning and so fourth, we asked what he wanted done. The job was to turn an old sail boat over behind the officers garage. He would pick us up, take us to his home, and bring us back to the base. That shouldn't take too long so we felt better about the whole thing. When we were ready, this officer met us down at the Dealy Center, introduced himself, and we were on our way.

At the time, who the man was did not ring a bell with us three Texans, but the other guy (the nerd from Boston) started throwing questions at him about how his sub could have been sunk by it's own torpedo, what it was like being taken prisoner by the Japs, being tortured, and all kinds of stupid things including what the details were of his receiving the Medal of Honor.

These were things we would not have brought up even if we knew the history of it and it was embarrassing to us three sitting in the back seat. The officer however was matter of fact in his answers and discussion with the nerd, and sitting there taking it all in, we realized he was someone special. You bet he was! He was the Base Commander, Commander Richard O'Kane, one of the most aggressive submarine captains out there during the Big one. He did it all.

I knew when we finished turning over the small sail boat and he drove us back to the base, we had been in the presence of a very distinguished person and true gentleman. It was an honor for a twenty year old to be asked to help out with this home project. Through the years as I've read about O'Kane and his exploits, the significance of having had the opportunity to met and do a favor for this genuine American submarine hero has grown considerably.

Home - Sea Stories