Dudley Walker Morton

The Fearless USS Wahoo Commander Who Became a World War II Submarine Legend

What makes a submarine commander legendary? Is it the number of enemy ships he sinks, the risks he takes, or the courage to sail into waters from which he might never return? For Commander Dudley Walker "Mush" Morton, it was all three. As commanding officer of USS Wahoo (SS-238), he transformed an American submarine into one of the most feared raiders of World War II, earning four Navy Crosses and the Army Distinguished Service Cross before his life was cut short in the Pacific.

Born on July 17, 1907, in Owensboro, Kentucky, Morton graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1930. After serving aboard surface ships and gaining extensive submarine experience, he assumed command of USS Wahoo in December 1942. At a time when American submarines faced dangerous Japanese defenses and unreliable torpedoes, Morton embraced aggressive tactics, unconventional thinking, and exceptional calculated risks.

His first patrol in command would establish his reputation. Between January 16 and February 7, 1943, Morton led Wahoo into enemy-controlled waters near New Guinea. Using an improvised chart, he penetrated Wewak Harbor and torpedoed the Japanese destroyer Harusame, seriously damaging it. He then pursued a Japanese convoy through a prolonged running battle. His first Navy Cross citation praised his extraordinary heroism, tactical judgment, and relentless attacks, which were credited with devastating enemy shipping. General Douglas MacArthur also awarded him the Army Distinguished Service Cross for his actions between January 24 and 26, recognizing his attacks on the destroyer and a convoy carrying Japanese reinforcements. USS Wahoo received the Presidential Unit Citation for this remarkable third war patrol.

But Morton was only beginning. During Wahoo's fourth patrol, from February 23 to April 6, 1943, he carried the fight into the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. His second Navy Cross citation credited his skillful torpedo and gunfire attacks against numerous Japanese vessels, including freighters, a trawler, and sampans, as well as damage to another freighter. His ability to strike unexpectedly in heavily defended waters made Wahoo a formidable threat.

His third Navy Cross followed the submarine's fifth war patrol, from April 25 to May 21, 1943. The citation recognized Morton's aggressive torpedo attacks against Japanese shipping, his outstanding courage, and his determined leadership despite the hazardous conditions. By then, he had become one of America's most celebrated submarine commanders.

Yet his most dangerous mission still lay ahead. On September 9, 1943, Morton departed Pearl Harbor aboard Wahoo for another penetration of the Sea of Japan. The submarine successfully attacked Japanese shipping, but on October 11, while attempting to leave through La Pérouse Strait, she was lost to Japanese antisubmarine forces. Morton and all 79 members of his crew perished. He was just 36 years old.

His fourth Navy Cross was awarded posthumously, recognizing his extraordinary heroism, brilliant tactical ability, and leadership during his final patrol and earlier operations. His sacrifice was also recognized by the Purple Heart. His broader naval service was reflected in his American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.

Postwar assessments credited Morton with sinking 19 Japanese ships totaling approximately 55,000 tons, placing him among the most successful American submarine commanders of World War II. His remarkable career was later commemorated through the naming of the destroyer USS Morton (DD-948).

The sea claimed Commander Dudley Walker Morton and his crew, but it could never erase their legacy. Their story remains a testament to courage, leadership, and the extraordinary sacrifices of the United States Navy's submarine force during World War II.