Howard Walter Gilmore was born on 29 September 1902 in Selma, Alabama. After enlisting in the U.S. Navy, he was appointed to the Naval Academy, from which he graduated in June 1926. As an Ensign and Lieutenant Junior Grade he served on board the battleship Mississippi and destroyer Perry (DD-340). In 1931 Gilmore received instruction at the Submarine School, New London, Connecticut, then reported for duty on USS S-48 (SS-159). Following ordnance engineering training at the Naval Postgraduate School and the Washington Navy Yard during 1932-1935, he was assigned to the new submarine Shark, becoming her Executive Officer and Navigator when she was placed in commission in January 1936. Several months later he was promoted to Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Gilmore's next assignment, as Executive Officer of the submarine Dolphin in 1937-1939, was followed by nearly two years' duty at the Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, Virginia. Attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 1941, later in that year he commanded S-48 before going to the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut, to fit out the new submarine Growler (SS-215). With Gilmore as her Commanding Officer, she went to the Pacific in the spring of 1942 and began her first war patrol in late June. Early in July Growler sank one Japanese destroyer and damaged two others off Kiska, Aleutians, earning Gilmore the Navy Cross for his "extraordinary heroism". During her second war patrol, in the East China Sea near Taiwan during August and September 1942, his submarine sank four more enemy ships, for which he was awarded a second Navy Cross.
Growler operated in the Bismarcks area on her fourth war patrol, sinking one ship and attacking several others during January and early February 1943. On 7 February she fought a desperate night battle with the Japanese supply ship Hayasaki, during which Gilmore rammed the enemy ship, badly bending Growler's bow. Wounded by machine gun fire and unable to go below, Gilmore gave the order "Take her down!", sacrificing himself so his submarine could dive to safety. For his "distinguished gallantry and valor" on this occasion and earlier in the patrol, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to Commander. Howard W. Gilmore is listed on the Manila Cemetery's "Wall of the Missing", Manila, Philippines.
USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16), 1944-2006, was named in honor of Commander Howard W. Gilmore.
This page features the only images we have concerning Howard W. Gilmore.
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Photo #: NH 74514 Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Gilmore, USN Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "United States Submarine Operations in World War II," page 207. Howard W. Gilmore was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "distinguished gallantry and valor" from 10 January to 7 February 1943 while serving as the Commanding Officer of USS Growler (SS-215) in the Bismarck Islands area. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 67KB; 470 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 106205-A Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Gilmore, USN Photographed circa mid-1942, just after being awarded the Navy Cross for his "extraordinary heroism" while serving as Commanding Officer of USS Growler (SS-215) from 20 June to 17 July 1942. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 69KB; 575 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-41356 Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Gilmore, USN Photographed after being awarded the Navy Cross for his "extraordinary heroism" while serving as Commanding Officer of USS Growler (SS-215) from 20 June to 17 July 1942. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 60KB; 580 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 106205 Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Gilmore, USN Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 192. Howard W. Gilmore was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "distinguished gallantry and valor" from 10 January to 7 February 1943 while serving as Commanding Officer of USS Growler (SS-215). This image is a retouched version of that seen in Photo #: NH 106205-A. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 74KB; 615 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-88577 U.S. Naval Submarine Base, New London, Groton, Connecticut Members of the 4th Command Class at the Submarine Base, February 1942. Those present are, bottom row left to right: Top row, left to right: Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 560 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 74515 USS Growler (SS-215) Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "United States Submarine Operations in World War II," page 207. The photo was taken while Growler was alongside USS Fulton (AS-11) at Brisbane, Australia in February 1943, after ramming a Japanese Patrol Vessel in the Bismarck Islands area on 7 February 1943. Note her badly bent bow. Growler's Commanding Officer, Commander Howard W. Gilmore, USN, lost his life in this action. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 111KB; 620 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-42661 Commander Howard W. Gilmore, USN Mrs. Howard W. Gilmore is presented with her husband's Medal of Honor by Rear Admiral Andrew C. Bennett, USN, Commander, Eighth Naval District, 18 August 1943. Standing by are the Gilmore's son, Howard Jr., and daughter Vernon Jeanne. The medal was posthumously awarded to Commander Gilmore for heroism in action on board USS Growler (SS-215) on 7 February 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-42663 Commander Howard W. Gilmore, USN Mrs. Howard W. Gilmore transfers her late husband's Medal of Honor to her son, Howard Jr., at the ceremony in which the medal was posthumously awarded to Commander Gilmore for heroism in action on board USS Growler (SS-215), on 7 February 1943. Standing by are Commander Gilmore's daughter, Vernon Jeanne, and Rear Admiral Andrew C. Bennett, USN, Commandant, Eighth Naval District. This presentation ceremony took place on 18 August 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Medal of Honor citation of Commander Howard Walter Gilmore, USN (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 192): |
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 3 November 2008
Edited and reposted 20 October 2009