'Robert Henry English' (
16 January 1888 -
21 January 1943), born in
Warrenton, Georgia, was a member of the
United States Naval Academy class of
1911, and early in his naval career became a submariner.
In
1917, while commanding
''O-4'' (SS-65), he won the
Navy Cross for his great heroism in rescuing an officer trapped in
''O-5'' (SS-66) after an explosion. After a series of important assignments, he became commanding officer of
''Helena'' (CL-50), and during the Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941 was one of the first to bring his ship into action.
On
14 May 1942, he became
Commander, Submarines, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and was so serving when killed in an airplane accident in
California 21 January 1943. For his exceptionally meritorious service in his last assignment,
Rear Admiral English was posthumously awarded the
Distinguished Service Medal.
The
USS ''English'' (DD-696), an
''Allen M. Sumner''-class destroyer, was named in his honor.
References
External links
★
history.navy.mil: USS ''English''