Roy M. Davenport
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Rear Admiral Roy Milton[1] Davenport (June 18, 1909 – December 24, 1987) was an American officer in the United States Navy. He is the first sailor to be awarded five Navy Crosses, the United States military's second highest decoration for valor. Davenport was awarded these military decorations while serving as a submarine commander in the Pacific during World War II.
Roy Milton Davenport | |
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Born | (1909-06-18)June 18, 1909 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
Died | December 24, 1987(1987-12-24) (aged 78) Laguna Hills, California, U.S. |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1933–1959 |
Rank | Rear Admiral |
Commands held | USS General J. C. Breckinridge USS Trepang USS Haddock |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
Awards | Navy Cross (5) Silver Star (2) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2) |
Davenport made eleven submarine war patrols, six of them as a commanding officer. It was during these six patrols in command of the Gato-class submarine USS Haddock and the Balao-class submarine USS Trepang that he received five Navy Crosses, two Silver Stars, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Presidential Unit Citations, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy Unit Commendation. He was also awarded the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia with two silver star devices for a total of eleven successful war patrols. These are documented in his autobiography, Clean Sweep, 1986.
A student of Christian Science, Davenport was dubbed the "praying skipper" and was known for his daring attacks against Japanese ships, often executed on the surface to gain additional speed. In all, he was credited during the Pacific War with sinking 17 Japanese ships and damaging 10, but this was reduced to 8 by JANAC postwar evaluations. While none of the men under his command were lost, he and his crews experienced many close calls and escapes. He credited his religious faith for his successes.