February 2, 1911 - Dover, New Hampshire - Richard Hetherington O'Kane is born
January(?) 1(?), 1930 - Andover, Massachusetts - Graduates from Phillips Academy
May 1(?), 1934 - Annapolis, Maryland - Graduates from U.S.Naval Academy
June 1, 1936 - Berkeley, California - O'Kane marries Ernestine Groves at the Episcopal Church, during USS Pruitt's overhaul at Mare Island
January 1(?), 1938 - Groton, Connecticut - Richard O'Kane is accepted in the Submarine School New London
June 1(?), 1938 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - After receiving submarine instruction, O'Kane is assigned to the "USS Argonaut" =(START)
November 28, 1941 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Argonaut, commanded by Stephen G. Barchet, departs to patrol around Midway Island, with USS Trout
December 7, 1941 - Off Midway Island - USS Argonaut is notified by radio of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
January 20, 1942 - Off Midway Island - USS Argonaut successfully rendezvous with the destroyer USS Litchfield to escort her back to Pearl Harbor
January 22, 1942 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Argonaut returns to Pearl Harbor. O'Kane witnesses the devastation wreacked by the japanese air raid
February(?) 1(?), 1942 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - USS Argonaut arrives for her overhaul
April 1(?), 1942 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - End of O'Kane's service in USS Argonaut
June 15, 1942 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - Joins the precommissioning crew of the new submarine "USS Wahoo" as Executive Officer
August 12, 1942 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - USS Wahoo departs to Hawaii
August 18, 1942 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Wahoo arrives in Hawaii to conduct exercises until August 21st
August 23, 1942 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Wahoo departs for her First War Patrol, under the command of Marvin G. Kennedy
September 6, 1942 - Between Hall Islands and Namonuito Atoll, W of Truk - USS Wahoo fires 3 torpedoes at a freighter, but misses
September 20, 1942 - Between Hall Islands and Namonuito Atoll, W of Truk - Kennedy decides to leave the southwest part of the patrol area and explore south of the Namonuito Atoll - a freighter is hit by a torpedo but doesn't sink
October 1, 1942 - Ulul Island, W Namonuito Atoll, Micronesia - USS Wahoo's patrol reached Ulul Island
October 7, 1942 - Ulul Island, W Namonuito Atoll, Micronesia - USS Wahoo departs the patrol area, after missing two of the best targets due to lack of skill and agressiveness - An aircraft carrier escorted by 2 destroyers and a mother ship to midget submarines
October 16, 1942 - Off Hawaii - USS Wahoo makes rendezvous with her escort and proceeds to Pearl Harbor
October 17, 1942 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Wahoo returns from her First War Patrol. Starts refit on 18th
November 8, 1942 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - Dudley Morton and Richard O'Kane depart for USS Wahoo's second war patrol, under the command of Marvin G. Kennedy
November 30, 1942 - Solomon Islands (with Bougainville and Buka on sight) - USS Wahoo fails to approach a target and proceeds East of Cape Hanpan
December 7, 1942 - Between Truk and the Shortland Islands - Kennedy decides to patrol the direct route between Truk and the Shortland Islands
December 10, 1942 - Off Buin, Bougainville Island - During the return trip, USS Wahoo runs across a convoy of cargo ships and a destroyer - Cargo ship "Kamoi Maru" sunk. The following depth charge attack fails to damage the submarine
December 14, 1942 - USS Wahoo sinks an unidentified Japanese Submarine
December 15, 1942 - Kieta Harbor, Bougainville Island - USS Wahoo looks into Kieta Harbor
December 26, 1942 - Moreton Light, Australia - USS Wahoo passes Moreton Light for entrance into Brisbane
December 27, 1942 - Brisbane, Australia - USS Wahoo arrives in Brisbane and starts refit
December 31, 1942 - Brisbane, Australia - Lt.Commander Kennedy is relieved as commanding officer for being unproductive. Dudley Morton replaces him
January 16, 1943 - Brisbane, Australia - After performing sonar tests in Moreton Bay, USS Wahoo departs for her Third War Patrol, under command of Dudley Morton
January 19, 1943 - Vitiaz Strait (Between New Guinea and New Britain) - USS Wahoo passes into Vitiaz Strait
January 24, 1943 - N of Kairiru Island (N Papua New Guinea) - USS Wahoo dives North of Kairiru Island and proceeds around the western end to penetrate Victoria Bay. Destroyer "Harusame" is heavily damaged. USS Wahoo changes course to Palau
January 26, 1943 - 270 nm N of Dutch New Guinea - USS Wahoo fires at two ships - "Fukuei Maru" is sunk, then, "Buyo Maru", a japanese transport ship carrying Indian POWs from 16th Punjab Regiment, is also sunk. USS Wahoo intercepts another two ships, sinking one and damaging another. Morton and O'Kane proceed to Fais Island
January 28, 1943 - Fais Island, E Caroline Islands (Between Palau and Guam) - USS Wahoo sights Fais Island, and her plan to shell a phosphorite refinery is scrapped due to the untimely appearance of an inter-island steamer. On 27th, a japanese destroyer effectively thwarths a USS Wahoo attack on a convoy
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| O'Kane and Morton on the bridge of USS Wahoo, February 1943 |
February 21, 1943 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Wahoo is drydocked after refit
February 23, 1943 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Wahoo departs for Midway Island on her fourth war patrol
February 27, 1943 - Midway Island - USS Wahoo topps off her fuel tanks and heads for her patrol area
March 11, 1943 - Nagasaki-Formosa / Shimonoseki-Formosa shipping routes - USS Wahoo arrives to her assigned patrol area
March 19, 1943 - E of Dalian, China - Freighter "Zogen Maru" sunk. Another freighter is damaged but escapes
March 21, 1943 - S of Chinnampo, North Korea - Large Freighter sunk - "Hozen Maru". Then a smaller one - "Nittsu Maru" sunk
March 23, 1943 - Laotiehshan Channel, close to Port Arthur - Collier "Katyosan Maru" sunk
March 24, 1943 - Korea Bay, 50km SE of Dalian - Large tanker sunk - "Takaosan Maru"
March 25, 1943 - N Yellow Sea (between Weihai-CHN and Haeju-N.Korea) - Freighter "Satsuki Maru" sunk with deck gun
March 26, 1943 - East China Sea - A Freighter and a trawler are sunk with deck gun
March 28, 1943 - Shimonoseki-Formosa Shipping route - USS Wahoo wrecks two motor sampans with 20mm gunfire
March 29, 1943 - S of Kyushu - Freighter "Yamabato Maru" is sunk
April 6, 1943 - Midway Island - USS Wahoo arrives at Midway Island. Refit starts on the following day
April 25, 1943 - Midway Island - USS Wahoo departs under air escort for her fifth patrol, via the Kuril Islands
May 4, 1943 - Northeast tip of Etorofu Island, Kuril Islands - Seaplane tender "Kamikawa Maru" is damaged (later sunk by USS Scamp)
May 7, 1943 - Off Benten Saki Coast - USS Wahoo sinks the "Tamon Maru #5", another ship escapes
May 9, 1943 - Kone Saki - USS Wahoo proceeds up the coast with the intention of closing Kone Saki - Large tanker "Takao Maru" and freighter "Jimu Maru" are sunk
May 12, 1943 - Tokyo-Paramushiro routh - Two freighters are attacked but manage to escape
May 21, 1943 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Wahoo arrives from her fifth war patrol
May 22, 1943 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - Admiral Chester Nimitz comes on board to present awards
May 24, 1943 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Wahoo departs to Mare Island Navy Yard
May 29, 1943 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - USS Wahoo arrives at Mare Island Navy Yard
July 1(?), 1943 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - Richard O'Kane is detached from service on USS Wahoo
August 17, 1943 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - USS Tang is launched
October 15, 1943 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - USS Tang is commissioned with Lt.Commander Richard O'Kane
November 30, 1943 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - USS Tang is delivered to the Navy
December 1, 1943 - San Diego Area - Eighteen days of training
January 8, 1944 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Tang arrives in Hawaii to conduct two more weeks of exercises in preparation for combat
January 22, 1944 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Tang departs on her first war patrol
January 29, 1944 - Vicinity of Wake Island - Submerged patrols in the vicinity of Wake Island until February 5th
February 8, 1944 - N of Truk - USS Tang arrives to patrol area and sights USS Guardfish
February 14, 1944 - N of Namonuito (Truk-Saipan route) - Patrolling
February 17, 1944 - 130 miles WNW Truk, Micronesia - O'Kane attacks a japanese convoy, sinking army cargoship - Gyoten Maru - and merchant tanker "Kuniei Maru", and survives depth-charging by escorts "Amakusa", submarine chaser "Cha-31", auxiliary submarine chaser "Cha-24" and auxiliary minesweeper "Hagoromo Maru"
February 22, 1944 - 60 nm SW of Saipan - USS Tang makes a surface attack on a convoy of 3 cargo ships and 2 escorts. Sunken Ship - Fukuyama Maru
February 23, 1944 - Off Truk - Sunken ship - "Yamashiro Maru"
February 24, 1944 - W of Saipan - O'Kane sights a tanker, a freighter and a destroyer. As night falls, the freighter "Tatutaki Maru" is sunk in a surface attack. Next morning, "Echizen Maru" is also sunk. USS Wahoo survives the following depth charge attack, but is almost lost when a water leak in the torpedo room makes the submarine exceed the diving limit. However, O'Kane manages to control the submarine and return to surface
February 26, 1944 - W of Saipan - O'Kane sights a convoy of 6 ships (4 escorts), and uses his last torpedoes to sink the cargo ship "Choko Maru"
March 3, 1944 - Midway Island - USS Tang arrives to Midway Islands to end her first war patrol
March 16, 1944 - Midway Island - USS Tang departs for her Second War Patrol
March 23, 1944 - E of Pagan Island | Between Pagan and Alakamga Islands - USS Tang sights a trawler, probably a spotter, so it dives to avoid detection
March 24, 1944 - Between Pagan and Alakamga Islands - USS changes course to north to intercept USS Barb's convoy. Proceeding to area W of Palau
March 30, 1944 - Off Truk - USS Tang rescues 22 downed airmen, including some rescued by John Burns' Vought Kingfisher
April 2, 1944 - E of Davao City, Mindanao - USS Tang reaches new area of patrol - submerged patrol to avoid searchlights
April 3, 1944 - E of Davao Gulf, Philippines - Patrolling new area East of Davao Gulf
April 8, 1944 - W of Palau - Patrolling new area west of Palau
April 10, 1944 - 50 nm from Toagel Mlungui Pass (Palau) - Approaching the island submerged and slow, expecting shipping
April 11, 1944 - 10 nm from Toagel Mlungui Pass (Palau) - Submerged patrol with periscope searches, in position to ambush japanese shipping
April 23, 1944 - Fais Island (Between Palau and Guam) - O'Kane opens fire against the Refinery at Fais Island
April 28, 1944 - W of Truk - USS Tang enters a new area of patrol
May 1, 1944 - Truk Atoll, Carolines - USS Tang sights and tracks a japanese submarine, however, it dives and disappears. O'Kane sets course to SW at emergency speed to rescue life rafts and survivors. In their way, they rescue the pilot of a float plane from USS North Carolina. 22 Naval aviators are rescued
May 7, 1944 - Truk Atoll, Carolines - USS Tang sets course to Pearl Harbor
May 9, 1944 - 120 nm from Wake Island - Aircraft sighted - emergency dive
May 15, 1944 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Tang arrives at Pearl Harbor from her second war patrol
June 8, 1944 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - USS Tang departs Pearl Harbor for her third war patrol
June 12, 1944 - Midway Island - USS Tang refuels at Midway Island and departs to the East China Sea
June 22, 1944 - Yakushima Island (S of Kagoshima) - USS Tang dives and passes Colnett Strait after dark
June 24, 1944 - SW of Kagoshima - A convoy of 6 large ships and 16 escorts is sighted. USS Tang closes for two surface attacks and sinks 4 ships - "Tamahoko Maru", "Tainan Maru", "Nasusan Maru" and "Kennichi Maru"
June 30, 1944 - Between Kyūshū and Dalian (CHN) - USS Tang sinks "Nikkin Maru", a transport ship without escort, after avoiding depth charges - 3,200 japanese soldiers go down with her
June 31, 1944 - Off Mokpo, SW South Korea - USS Tang sinks the freighter "Taiun Maru 2". After nightfall, the tanker "Takatori Maru 1" is also sunk
July 4, 1944 - Between Daikokusan Gunto and Osei To - Submerged attack - cargoships "Asukazan Maru" and "Yamaoka Maru" sunk
July 5, 1944 - Off Dalian, China - USS Tang uses her last 2 torpedoes in a submerged attack to the cargoship "Dori Maru" which is sunk
July 8, 1944 - Between Gaja-Shima and Tairajima (Satsunan Islands) - USS Tang passes submerged between Gaja-Shima and Tairajima Islands
July 14, 1944 - Midway Island - USS Tang arrives at Midway Island on the end of her third war patrol
July 31, 1944 - Midway Island - Departs for the Fourth war Patrol
August 8, 1944 - Mikura-Jima Island, S of Tokyo - USS Tang sights Mikura-Jima
August 10, 1944 - Omaezaki Beach, SW Shizuoka - O'Kane fires 3 torpedoes at a tanker but scores no hits
August 14, 1944 - E of Hachijo-Jima Island, S of Tokyo - USS Tang destroys a patrol yacht with her deck gun
August 22, 1944 - Owase-Wan (Owase Bay) - USS Tang sinks the patrol boat "No.2 Nansatsu Maru"
August 23, 1944 - Omai Saki, Omaezaki Cape - USS Tang sinks the large transport "Tsukushi Maru" - unknown number of deaths
August 25, 1944 - Off Adashika-Wan (Bay), S of Owase - USS Tang attacks a tanker and an escort with her last 3 torpedoes - Tanker "No.8 Nanko Maru" is sunk
August 26, 1944 - Aogashima Island, 222 nm S of Tokyo - USS Tang passed near Aogashima Island on the way home
September 3, 1944 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - O'Kane returns from his fourth war patrol on the USS Tang
September 24, 1944 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - After refit, USS Tang departs for her fifth war patrol with Richard O'Kane
September 27, 1944 - Midway Island - After topping off her fuel at Midway Island, USS Tang departs for the Formosa Strait
October 6, 1944 - On the way to Formosa - USS Tang runs into a full-fledged typhoon
October 10, 1944 - Off Northern Formosa - USS Tang sinks the cargo ships "Joshu Go" and "Ōita Maru" on the night of 10/11
October 23, 1944 - Off Turnabout Island, Strait of Formosa - O'Kane sights a large convoy of 3 tankers, a transport, a freighter and numerous escorts. USS Tang breaks into the middle of the formation and fires. Escaping to open water with difficulty - 3 ships are sunk by USS Tang's torpedoes and by ramming each other in the confusion
October 24, 1944 - Off Turnabout Island, Strait of Formosa - At dark, USS Tang heads for Turnabout Island (Kiushan Tao -CHN) and identifies a large convoy. Firing several torpedoes, USS Tang sinks the freighters "Kogen Maru" and "Matsumoto Maru" - Richard O'Kane is later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on 23 and 24
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| USS Tang |
October 26, 1944 - Takao, SW Formosa - The nine survivors are rescued by japanese patrol ship "P-34". They are beaten aboard by survivors of USS Tang's previous sinkings", which they understood. Each of them are questioned until the ship reaches Takao
October 27, 1944 - Keelung (Northern tip of Formosa) - The american prisoners travel all day long by train to an old portuguese prison in Keelung
November 1(?), 1944 - Kobe, Japan - O'Kane arrives at Kobe aboard a japanese warship and it put on a train to Yokohama
November 2(?), 1944 - Ōfuna Camp, Kamakura - In Yokohama, a bus takes O'Kane and the other nine captives to Ōfuna, where are placed in a prison camp and interrogated by Japanese Intelligence
April 1(?), 1945 - Omori Camp, Tokyo Bay - Pappy Boyington is ordered to lead a group of prisoners to Omori Camp, including Richard O'Kane
August 28, 1945 - Omori Camp, Tokyo Bay - Cpt.Harold Stassen, Governor of Minnesota, who was on military leave with Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet Staff, arrived to make arrangements for the removal of the 604 prisoners from Omori
September 2, 1945 - Tokyo Bay - In a much weakened state, O'Kane is taken aboard the hospital ship "Relief"
September 30(?), 1945 - Guam - In better condition, although still "a human wreckage", O'Kane arrives in Guam
September 31(?), 1945 - Alameda Naval Air Station, California - O'Kane returns to California
October 1(?), 1945 - Portsmouth, New Hampshire - O'Kane is taken to Portsmouth Naval Hospital
January(?) 1(?), 1946 - Portsmouth, New Hampshire - O'Kane is declared fit for service again
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| President Truman presents the Medal of Honor to Richard O'Kane |
April 1(?), 1946 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - Staff of Commander Mare Island Group, Pacific Reseve Fleet
September 1(?), 1947 - Tokyo, Japan - Richard O'Kane attends and testifies at the War Crimes Trial in Tokyo
November 1(?), 1947 - Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California - Back in the USA
July 1(?), 1948 - San Diego - Commanding officer of USS Pellas
August 1(?), 1949 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - Commander of Submarine Division 32
August 1(?), 1950 - Norfolk, Virginia - Armed Forces Staff College
January 1(?), 1951 - Groton, Connecticut - Instructor in Command Class, Assistant Officer in Charge, Submarine School
July 1(?), 1952 - Groton, Connecticut - Officer in charage Submarine School, New London
July 1(?), 1953 - Groton, Connecticut - O'Kane is promoted to Captain
August 1(?), 1953 - San Diego - Commanding officer of U.S.S. Sperry
June 1(?), 1954 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - Commander Submarine Squadron 7
June 1(?), 1955 - Newport, Rhode Island - Naval War College
July 1(?), 1956 - Washington D.C. - Ship Characteristics Board, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department
July 1, 1957 - Petaluma, California - Richard H. O'Kane retires
November 13, 1981 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - Medal of Honor Society convention - Four WW2 submarine commanders are present - Lawson P.Ramage, Richard H. O'Kane, George L.Street III and Eugene Fluckey
December(?) 1(?), 1981 - Petaluma, California - Back in Petaluma(?)
February 16, 1994 - Petaluma, California - Richard H. O'Kane dies, aged 83 =(END)
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