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Photo #  80-G-472641:  Commander George L. Street III, USN, October 1945

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Captain George L. Street III, USN, (1913-2000)

George Levick Street III was born on 27 July 1913 in Richmond, Virginia. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve from that state in 1931 and two years later was appointed to the Naval Academy. Commissioned an Ensign in June 1937, he served at sea in USS Concord and USS Arkansas during the following three years. Street was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade in June 1940 and a few months later began instruction at the Naval Submarine School, New London, Connecticut. He received orders in January 1941 to USS Gar (SS-206), then completing construction at Groton, Connecticut. While serving in that submarine during three years, and nine war patrols, he was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1942 and to Lieutenant Commander in July 1943. In February 1944, Street was assigned to the staff of Commander, Submarine Division Sixty-One. In July, he arrived at the Naval Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire to fit out and command the new submarine Tirante (SS-420), which was placed in commission in November of that year.

Tirante's first war patrol, beginning in March 1945, cost Japan at least six ships. Most notably, during a daring night penetration of the harbor of Quelpart Island (also known as Cheju Do), southwest of the Korean peninsula, on 14 April Street's submarine sank the Japanese transport Juzan Maru and anti-submarine escorts Nomi and Kaibokan # 31. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Street was promoted to Commander in July 1945 and, in January 1946, left Tirante to become the Navy's technical advisor for the submarine documentary film The Silent Service. That summer, he transferred to the Office of Naval Research and assisted in organizing the first Undersea Symposium. His next assignment, as Commanding Officer of USS Requin (SS-481), lasted from November 1946 to June 1948. This included operations as a radar picket submarine supporting aircraft carrier task forces. Following instruction at the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia in 1949, Commander Street served on its faculty in the Research and Development Division. In 1951, after attending the Fleet Sonar School at Key West, Florida, he assumed command of the USS Holder (DDE-819), a destroyer modified for anti-submarine purposes. Street commanded Submarine Division Sixty-Two 1952-1953, evaluating the use of several radar picket submarines working as a team. He then returned to the Office of the Chief of the Naval Operations as Assistant for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Armed Forces Policy Council.

In July 1955, Street was promoted to Captain. Upon completion of classes at the National War College in Washington, D.C. in July 1956, he served on the Staff to the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Returning to sea in July 1958, he commanded the attack transport Fremont (APA-44). A year later, Captain Street became Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Cambridge, Massachusetts. In October 1961, he took command of Submarine Squadron Five and, the next fall, joined the Staff of the Naval War College. His final assignment, beginning in December 1964, was as Commander Submarine Group, San Francisco Bay Area and Commander Mare Island Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. Captain Street retired from active duty in August 1966. George L. Street III died on 26 February 2000 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

This page features the only images we have concerning George L. Street III.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 102455

Commander George L. Street III, USN


Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 265.
George L. Street III was awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" while serving as Commanding Officer of USS Tirante (SS-240) in action against Japanese surface forces in the Harbor of Quelpart Island, off the Coast of Korea, on 14 April 1945, during her First War Patrol.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 45KB; 580 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-472641

Commander George L. Street III, USN
,
Commanding Officer of USS Tirante (SS-240)

At the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., just after receiving the Navy Cross from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 19 October 1945. He was awarded the medal for extraordinary ship-hunting efforts during Tirante's war patrols earlier in the year.
Street also received the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepedity" in action against Japanese forces on 14 April 1945. The ribbon for the Medal of Honor is in the top row of his ribbons, immediately below his submarine service "dolphins".

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 56KB; 590 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 106471

Captain George L. Street III, USN


Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Navy Birthday 1974 - A Proud Tradition, Planning Book", page 9.
Note the Medal of Honor ribbon in the top row of his uniform ribbons.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 45KB; 520 x 765 pixels

 



Medal of Honor citation of Commander George Levick Street III, USN (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 265):

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Tirante during the First War Patrol of that vessel against enemy Japanese surface forces in the Harbor of Quelpart Island, off the Coast of Korea, on 14 April 1945. With the crew at surface battle stations, Commander (then Lieutenant Commander) Street approached the hostile anchorage from the south within 1,200 yards of the coast to complete a reconnoitering circuit of the island. Leaving the 10-fathom curve far behind, he penetrated the mined and shoal-obstructed waters of the restricted harbor despite numerous patrolling vessels and in defiance of five shore-based radar stations and menacing aircraft. Prepared to fight it out on the surface if attacked, Commander Street went into action, sending two torpedoes with deadly accuracy into a large Japanese ammunition ship and exploding the target in a mountainous and blinding glare of white flames. With the Tirante instantly spotted by the enemy as she stood out plainly in the flare of light, he ordered the torpedo data computer set up while retiring and fired his last two torpedoes to disintegrate in quick succession the leading frigate and a similar flanking vessel. Clearing the gutted harbor at emergency full-speed-ahead, he slipped undetected along the shore line, diving deep as a pursuing patrol dropped a pattern of depth charges at the point of submergence. His illustrious record of combat achievement during the First War Patrol of the Tirante characterizes Commander Street as a daring and skilled leader and reflects the highest credit upon himself, his valiant command and the United States Naval Service. "


NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 25 March 2009
    Edited and reposted 23 September 2009