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Commander Dudley Walker
Morton
July 17, 1907 - October 11, 1943
Dudley
Walker Morton was born in Owensboro, Kentucky on July 17, 1907 to Mr. and
Mrs. William Dix Morton. He attended the Miami High School, Miami,
Florida and entered the U.S. Naval Academy as a Midshipman from the Fourth
Florida District in 1926. He was on the Varsity Football Team and
Varsity Wrestling Squad all four years and was variously called "Mush",
"Mushmouth" and "Dud" by his classmates. Graduated and commissioned
Ensign on June 5, 1930, he subsequently advanced to the rank of Commander.
After graduation he
was ordered to the USS SARATOGA for passage to the West Coast where he
had duty in connection with the fitting out of the USS CHICAGO at the Mare
Island Naval Shipyard. He served in her from ship's commissioning
on March 9, 1931 until June, 1933 when he reported to the Submarine Base,
New London, Connecticut for instruction. Upon completion of that
course in December, 1933 he was ordered to the Asiatic Station where he
served in the USS CANOPUS and later in the USS S-37, flagship of Submarine
Division Ten until January 1937.
He returned to the
United States via Europe and Siberia and was stationed in the Navy Yard,
Philadelphia from February 1937 until May 1939 when he joined USS FAIRFAX
and served as her Executive Officer until June, 1940. He next refitted
the USS R-5 and commanded her until April, 1942. He was attached
to the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut in May and in June 1942
was ordered to Submarine Squadron Four for duty as a Prospective Commanding
Officer. Ordered to the USS WAHOO, he joined her on November 2, 1942.
Following participation in her Second War Patrol, he assumed command on
December 31, 1942. Following four war patrols as Commanding Officer
of the WAHOO he was reported Missing In Action when that submarine was
reported overdue and presumed to be lost on November 1, 1943 in the Sea
of Japan, Asiatic Area. He was later declared dead, presumptive January
7, 1946.
Commander Morton was
awarded the Navy Cross, three Gold Stars in lieu of a second, third and
fourth Navy Cross and the Army Distinguished Service Cross. In addition
to these decorations, Commander Morton received the American Defense Service
Medal, Fleet Clasp; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; and was entitled
to the World War II Victory Medal; and the Purple Heart Medal. The
Navy officially credited him as the second highest scoring submarine commander
of World War II (tied with Captain Slade D. Cutter). In 1959 the U.S. Navy
named a destroyer, USS MORTON DD-948, in his honor.
Commander Morton was
survived by his wife Harriet and their two children, Douglas N. Morton
and Edwina R. Morton.
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