Mort Mumma was the first Captain of the recomissioned USS Sailfish (ex-Squalus SS 192). The Squalus, under the command of Oliver Naquin, sunk during sea trails on May 23, 1939. 26 crewmen drowned in the initial accident that flooded the aft end of the boat. 33 were rescued form 243 feet down by a rescure chamber over the next two days.
The Navy worked 4 months to salvage the Squalus and returned her the Portsmouth Navy Yard for refurbishing in September of 1939. She was decomissioned and in the winter of 1940, the Navy decided to rename the boat the USS Sailfish and she was recommissioned under that name on May 15, 1940.
The Navy also brought Lt. Cmd. Mort Mumma, then 36 yeras old, to command the Sailfish. Mumma was described as a soft-spoken, no-nonsense, by-the-book leader. His hard-driving determination made him one of the fleet's most respected skippers. He had a fine sense of humor and well liked among his peers, but he was very precise and humorless aboard the Sailfish.
Mumma graduated from the Naval Academy in 1925 and served on a number of surface ships before enrolling in submarine school in 1927 as a means to more quickly attain command of his own ship. He served on several subs before commanding the S-43 (SS 154). With the Sailfish, he had command of one of the Navy's newer submarines.
Aboard Sailfish, Mumma determined to erase any references to the Squalus and let only a few Squalus crewmen serve on the Sailfish. He was bent on leaving the Squalus legacy behind and blistered anyone who referred to her behind-the-back nickname "Squailfish". He even forbade former Squalus skipper Oliver Naquin from coming aboard the boat at Pearl Harbor.
Ultimately, the Sailfish was in the Pacific when the strike on Pearl Harbor happened and was among the first to engage the Japanese afterwards. For his actions, Muma was awarded the prestigeious Navy Cross.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Morton Claire Mumma, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. SAILFISH (SS-192), on the FIRST War Patrol of that submarine in enemy controlled waters of off Luzon, Philippine Islands. On the night of 13 December 1941, the ship made contact with a convoy escorted by three Japanese destroyers. Lieutenant Commander Mumma boldly maneuvered his submarine into striking position despite enemy depth charge counter measures and directed operations and fire to score a torpedo hit on an enemy destroyer. Through his experience and sound judgment Lieutenant Commander Mumma brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
However, the attack on a destroyer and subsequent depth charging convinced Mumma that he did not want to be a submarine skipper. Although given the Navy Cross for the presumed sinking of the destroyer, Mumma and the Sailfish returned to Manilla where he was relieved of command. He went on to serve with distinction in surface craft and attained the rank of Rear Admiral before retiring from the Navy.
Mumma became managing editor of a newspaper in West Virginia after the war, returned to active duty during the Korean War, and then retired with a physical disability. A noted marksman, Mumma later became the president of the National Rifle Association. He passed away in 1968.
The Navy worked 4 months to salvage the Squalus and returned her the Portsmouth Navy Yard for refurbishing in September of 1939. She was decomissioned and in the winter of 1940, the Navy decided to rename the boat the USS Sailfish and she was recommissioned under that name on May 15, 1940.
The Navy also brought Lt. Cmd. Mort Mumma, then 36 yeras old, to command the Sailfish. Mumma was described as a soft-spoken, no-nonsense, by-the-book leader. His hard-driving determination made him one of the fleet's most respected skippers. He had a fine sense of humor and well liked among his peers, but he was very precise and humorless aboard the Sailfish.
Mumma graduated from the Naval Academy in 1925 and served on a number of surface ships before enrolling in submarine school in 1927 as a means to more quickly attain command of his own ship. He served on several subs before commanding the S-43 (SS 154). With the Sailfish, he had command of one of the Navy's newer submarines.
Aboard Sailfish, Mumma determined to erase any references to the Squalus and let only a few Squalus crewmen serve on the Sailfish. He was bent on leaving the Squalus legacy behind and blistered anyone who referred to her behind-the-back nickname "Squailfish". He even forbade former Squalus skipper Oliver Naquin from coming aboard the boat at Pearl Harbor.
Ultimately, the Sailfish was in the Pacific when the strike on Pearl Harbor happened and was among the first to engage the Japanese afterwards. For his actions, Muma was awarded the prestigeious Navy Cross.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Morton Claire Mumma, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. SAILFISH (SS-192), on the FIRST War Patrol of that submarine in enemy controlled waters of off Luzon, Philippine Islands. On the night of 13 December 1941, the ship made contact with a convoy escorted by three Japanese destroyers. Lieutenant Commander Mumma boldly maneuvered his submarine into striking position despite enemy depth charge counter measures and directed operations and fire to score a torpedo hit on an enemy destroyer. Through his experience and sound judgment Lieutenant Commander Mumma brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
However, the attack on a destroyer and subsequent depth charging convinced Mumma that he did not want to be a submarine skipper. Although given the Navy Cross for the presumed sinking of the destroyer, Mumma and the Sailfish returned to Manilla where he was relieved of command. He went on to serve with distinction in surface craft and attained the rank of Rear Admiral before retiring from the Navy.
Mumma became managing editor of a newspaper in West Virginia after the war, returned to active duty during the Korean War, and then retired with a physical disability. A noted marksman, Mumma later became the president of the National Rifle Association. He passed away in 1968.
Mort Mumma was the first Captain of the recomissioned USS Sailfish (ex-Squalus SS 192). The Squalus, under the command of Oliver Naquin, sunk during sea trails on May 23, 1939. 26 crewmen drowned in the initial accident that flooded the aft end of the boat. 33 were rescued form 243 feet down by a rescure chamber over the next two days.
The Navy worked 4 months to salvage the Squalus and returned her the Portsmouth Navy Yard for refurbishing in September of 1939. She was decomissioned and in the winter of 1940, the Navy decided to rename the boat the USS Sailfish and she was recommissioned under that name on May 15, 1940.
The Navy also brought Lt. Cmd. Mort Mumma, then 36 yeras old, to command the Sailfish. Mumma was described as a soft-spoken, no-nonsense, by-the-book leader. His hard-driving determination made him one of the fleet's most respected skippers. He had a fine sense of humor and well liked among his peers, but he was very precise and humorless aboard the Sailfish.
Mumma graduated from the Naval Academy in 1925 and served on a number of surface ships before enrolling in submarine school in 1927 as a means to more quickly attain command of his own ship. He served on several subs before commanding the S-43 (SS 154). With the Sailfish, he had command of one of the Navy's newer submarines.
Aboard Sailfish, Mumma determined to erase any references to the Squalus and let only a few Squalus crewmen serve on the Sailfish. He was bent on leaving the Squalus legacy behind and blistered anyone who referred to her behind-the-back nickname "Squailfish". He even forbade former Squalus skipper Oliver Naquin from coming aboard the boat at Pearl Harbor.
Ultimately, the Sailfish was in the Pacific when the strike on Pearl Harbor happened and was among the first to engage the Japanese afterwards. For his actions, Muma was awarded the prestigeious Navy Cross.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Morton Claire Mumma, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. SAILFISH (SS-192), on the FIRST War Patrol of that submarine in enemy controlled waters of off Luzon, Philippine Islands. On the night of 13 December 1941, the ship made contact with a convoy escorted by three Japanese destroyers. Lieutenant Commander Mumma boldly maneuvered his submarine into striking position despite enemy depth charge counter measures and directed operations and fire to score a torpedo hit on an enemy destroyer. Through his experience and sound judgment Lieutenant Commander Mumma brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
However, the attack on a destroyer and subsequent depth charging convinced Mumma that he did not want to be a submarine skipper. Although given the Navy Cross for the presumed sinking of the destroyer, Mumma and the Sailfish returned to Manilla where he was relieved of command. He went on to serve with distinction in surface craft and attained the rank of Rear Admiral before retiring from the Navy.
Mumma became managing editor of a newspaper in West Virginia after the war, returned to active duty during the Korean War, and then retired with a physical disability. A noted marksman, Mumma later became the president of the National Rifle Association. He passed away in 1968.
The Navy worked 4 months to salvage the Squalus and returned her the Portsmouth Navy Yard for refurbishing in September of 1939. She was decomissioned and in the winter of 1940, the Navy decided to rename the boat the USS Sailfish and she was recommissioned under that name on May 15, 1940.
The Navy also brought Lt. Cmd. Mort Mumma, then 36 yeras old, to command the Sailfish. Mumma was described as a soft-spoken, no-nonsense, by-the-book leader. His hard-driving determination made him one of the fleet's most respected skippers. He had a fine sense of humor and well liked among his peers, but he was very precise and humorless aboard the Sailfish.
Mumma graduated from the Naval Academy in 1925 and served on a number of surface ships before enrolling in submarine school in 1927 as a means to more quickly attain command of his own ship. He served on several subs before commanding the S-43 (SS 154). With the Sailfish, he had command of one of the Navy's newer submarines.
Aboard Sailfish, Mumma determined to erase any references to the Squalus and let only a few Squalus crewmen serve on the Sailfish. He was bent on leaving the Squalus legacy behind and blistered anyone who referred to her behind-the-back nickname "Squailfish". He even forbade former Squalus skipper Oliver Naquin from coming aboard the boat at Pearl Harbor.
Ultimately, the Sailfish was in the Pacific when the strike on Pearl Harbor happened and was among the first to engage the Japanese afterwards. For his actions, Muma was awarded the prestigeious Navy Cross.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Morton Claire Mumma, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. SAILFISH (SS-192), on the FIRST War Patrol of that submarine in enemy controlled waters of off Luzon, Philippine Islands. On the night of 13 December 1941, the ship made contact with a convoy escorted by three Japanese destroyers. Lieutenant Commander Mumma boldly maneuvered his submarine into striking position despite enemy depth charge counter measures and directed operations and fire to score a torpedo hit on an enemy destroyer. Through his experience and sound judgment Lieutenant Commander Mumma brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
However, the attack on a destroyer and subsequent depth charging convinced Mumma that he did not want to be a submarine skipper. Although given the Navy Cross for the presumed sinking of the destroyer, Mumma and the Sailfish returned to Manilla where he was relieved of command. He went on to serve with distinction in surface craft and attained the rank of Rear Admiral before retiring from the Navy.
Mumma became managing editor of a newspaper in West Virginia after the war, returned to active duty during the Korean War, and then retired with a physical disability. A noted marksman, Mumma later became the president of the National Rifle Association. He passed away in 1968.
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