Illinois
The most senior naval officer to win the Congressional Medal of Honor was Captain John Cromwell. Born on Sept. 11 th 1901 in Henry, Illinois he rose to the rank of Captain in the U.S. Navy. He was Commander of a Submarine Coordinated Attack Group, commonly called a wolf-pack, and had his flag aboard the USS Sculpin (SS-191). As a group Commander Capt. Cromwell was privy to the use of ULTRA and its importance in decoding the Japanese Naval Codes and how the use of these codes was defining the strategy of the Pacific War. In addition, he was in possession of some of the details of
the impending invasion of Saipan. Sculpin, on patrol north of Truk, was to combine her efforts with those of Searaven and Apagon to deliver a coordinated attack on the Japanese forces in and around the Gilberts.
On November 19, 1943 Sculpin was attacking a fast convoy when sighted by the rear escort. It turned to engage and delivered a close aboard depth charge attack. About noon, a series of eighteen charges caused major damage to the sub and Captain Cromwell authorized the surfacing of the sub thus allowing the crew opportunity to abandon ship. The Sculpin did surface to fight it out. The destroyer won the fight badly damaging the sub, killing those on the bridge and Conning Tower. Lt. G.E. Brown ordered the crew to abandon ship. Captain Cromwell elected to stay behind and go down with the ship taking with him the secrets he held. He, Ensign Smith, and twelve others rode the ship down.
Captain Cromwell’s citation reads, ” .. he had served his country as he had served the Navy, with deep integrity and an uncompromising devotion to duty.