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Navy Federal Credit Union
Richard
George
Voge
May 4, 1904

–

The U.S.S. Sailfish was the former U.S.S. Squalus which was rebuilt and re-commissioned after it sank during trials in 1939.

Awards Received

  • Navy Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain

    Action Date:

    September 1942 – June 1945
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 349 (April 1946)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Captain Richard George Voge, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Operations and Combat Intelligence Officer, Submarines Pacific, from September 1942 to June 1945. Captain Voge placed into operation the highly effective method by which our submarines have sought out and destroyed the enemy. In his intelligent analysis of Japanese ship movements and strategy, he was able to coordinate the operations of all submarines in the Pacific fleet with other forces, with the result that millions of tons of enemy merchant and combat shipping were sunk or damaged. He also contributed immeasurably to the inauguration and success of air-sea rescue operations in support of air strikes against the Japanese home islands.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Commander

    Division:

    U.S.S. Sailfish (SS-192)

    Action Date:

    March 2, 1942
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 302 (May 1942)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Richard George Voge, 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 THIRD War Patrol of that submarine during the period 19 February 1942 to 19 March 1943, in enemy controlled waters of the Lombok Strait in the Java Sea. Following an unsuccessful attack on the Japanese warship on 2 March, the SAILFISH was forced to dive deep to escape the depth charge attack of the destroyer and patrol aircraft. That night, she contacted a carrier-type vessel, escorted by four destroyers. Sailfish torpedoed and sank the aircraft ferry, Kamogawa Maru, near the approach to Lombok Strait, leaving the ship aflame and dead in the water. On another occasion the SAILFISH scored torpedo hits on a Japanese cruiser. Through his experience and sound judgment Lieutenant Commander Voge 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.