James Charles Dempsey (August 30, 1908 – July 9, 1979), was a decorated submarine commander during World War II who reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.[2][3] He died, aged 70, on July 9, 1979, of congestive heart and kidney failure at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia.[4]
As submarine commander of the USS-37, he sank the first enemy destroyer in World War II on February 8, 1942.[5][6]
For this action, he was awarded a Navy Cross. According to the official award citation, it was awarded "For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the USS-37, in offensive action in the Straits of Makassar on February 8, 1942. Lieutenant Dempsey attacked four vessels at close range, completely destroying one of them in the engagement.”[7]
As commander of the USS Spearfish a few months later, Dempsey helped to evacuate the last Americans from the island of Corregidor before it fell to the Japanese on May 6, 1942. On May 3, Dempsey led the Spearfish into hostile waters around Corregidor island. According to a historian of submarine operations in World War II, "Spearfish (Lieutenant Commander J.C. Dempsey) was the last submarine to visit crumbling Corregidor. On May 3 she evacuated 12 Army and Navy officers, 11 Army nurses, a Navy nurse and a civilian woman…the last of Corregidor’s defenders to be reprieved. Here again was proof of the submersible’s ability to operate unsupported in waters under enemy control. With Japanese warships on every hand, Spearfish got in and got out, accomplishing one of the war’s most perilous rescue missions...”.[8]
For Dempsey's "extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty”, he won a gold star, in lieu of a second Navy Cross, for this accomplishment.[9]
His evacuation of Americans from Corregidor, which included Army and Navy nurses, was later fictionalized in the 1959 Hollywood film, "Operation Petticoat,” which starred Cary Grant as the commander of the submarine.[10]
His exploits were also been recreated in the late 1950s TV series, The Silent Service, where he was portrayed in three episodes by DeForest Kelley.
james, dempsey, james, charles, dempsey, august, 1908, july, 1979, decorated, submarine, commander, during, world, reached, rank, rear, admiral, united, states, navy, died, aged, july, 1979, congestive, heart, kidney, failure, portsmouth, naval, hospital, norf. James Charles Dempsey August 30 1908 July 9 1979 was a decorated submarine commander during World War II who reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy 2 3 He died aged 70 on July 9 1979 of congestive heart and kidney failure at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Norfolk Virginia 4 James Charles DempseyBorn 1908 08 30 August 30 1908Maritime Republic of EastportDiedJuly 9 1979 1979 07 09 aged 70 Norfolk VirginiaBuriedArlington National CemeteryAllegiance United States of AmericaBranchUnited States NavyYears of service1931 1970RankRear AdmiralCommands heldUSS S 37 SS 142 USS Spearfish SS 190 USS Cod Submarine Division 101 Submarine Division 72 Submarine Squadron 1 USS Waccamaw AO 109 Submarine Flotilla 1 Military Sea Transportation Service Amphibious Group 2 1 Battles warsWorld War II Battle of Makassar StraitAwardsNavy Cross 2 Silver Star Bronze Star 2 Alma materUnited States Naval AcademyAs submarine commander of the USS 37 he sank the first enemy destroyer in World War II on February 8 1942 5 6 For this action he was awarded a Navy Cross According to the official award citation it was awarded For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the USS 37 in offensive action in the Straits of Makassar on February 8 1942 Lieutenant Dempsey attacked four vessels at close range completely destroying one of them in the engagement 7 As commander of the USS Spearfish a few months later Dempsey helped to evacuate the last Americans from the island of Corregidor before it fell to the Japanese on May 6 1942 On May 3 Dempsey led the Spearfish into hostile waters around Corregidor island According to a historian of submarine operations in World War II Spearfish Lieutenant Commander J C Dempsey was the last submarine to visit crumbling Corregidor On May 3 she evacuated 12 Army and Navy officers 11 Army nurses a Navy nurse and a civilian woman the last of Corregidor s defenders to be reprieved Here again was proof of the submersible s ability to operate unsupported in waters under enemy control With Japanese warships on every hand Spearfish got in and got out accomplishing one of the war s most perilous rescue missions 8 For Dempsey s extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty he won a gold star in lieu of a second Navy Cross for this accomplishment 9 His evacuation of Americans from Corregidor which included Army and Navy nurses was later fictionalized in the 1959 Hollywood film Operation Petticoat which starred Cary Grant as the commander of the submarine 10 His exploits were also been recreated in the late 1950s TV series The Silent Service where he was portrayed in three episodes by DeForest Kelley References Edit https www navsource org archives 10 02 pdf 02092a pdf bare URL PDF James Dempsey Recipient Military Times Hall Of Valor valor militarytimes com Svonavec 1939 10 01 Submarine Commanders by USNA Class Year 1931 1934 Fleet Organization Home Page Retrieved 2020 01 09 ADM J C DEMPSEY SUBMARINE SKIPPER New York Times July 11 1979 Retrieved February 20 2020 Silent Victory The U S Submarine War Against Japan Clay Blair Jr Naval Institute Press 1975 pp 177 178 Roscoe Theodore 1949 50 United States Submarine Operations in World War II United States Naval Institute pp 72 74 ISBN 9780870217319 Official Biography from U S Navy Bureau of Personnel Washington DC 21 April 1960 United States Submarine Operations in World War II Theodore Roscoe pp 104 6 Official Biography from US Navy Bureau of Personnel Washington DC 21 April 1960 Operation Petticoat starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis directed by Blake Edwards 1959 This article about a notable individual during World War II is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James C Dempsey amp oldid 1141536948, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
