SAVED HIS SUBMARINE FROM SINKING
Excerpts from article posted on website www.news.navy.mil on 1/15/2007:
NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA -- Chief Machinist's Mate (SS/SW) John D. Wise Jr. received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (NMCM) during a special awards ceremony on December 18 at the Submarine Memorial on Naval Base Point Loma, California. His heroic efforts aboard USS DOLPHIN (AGSS-555) garnered the medal. "In my 23-plus years, I personally don't know of any examples of where a submarine sailor received this award in an operational scenario," said CAPT Dale Nees, Commander, Submarine Development Squadron 5. On May 21, 2002, DOLPHIN was conducting training exercises about 100 miles off the San Diego coastline when a torpedo shield door gasket failed and water began to flood DOLPHIN. Due to high winds and 10 to 11 foot swells in the ocean, approximately "70 to 85 tons of seawater entered the ship, an amount dangerously close to the reserve buoyancy of DOLPHIN," said Nees. Wise, realizing what needed to be done, dove into the 57-degree water of the flooded pump room. Not knowing if the room's equipment had been secured, and with less than a foot of breathable space at the compartment ceiling, he ensured the seawater valves were lined up allowing the dewatering to commence. Once the valves were aligned he remained in the pump room for more than 90 minutes in order to keep a submersible pump from becoming clogged. His courageous efforts prevented the loss of the ship and crew according to the citation letter from ADM Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations.
"Everybody was doing their job, and I happened to be at that spot at the right time. I only did what needed to be done. I was only thinking about getting the water off the boat," Wise said. The NMCM is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy. For acts of lifesaving or attempted lifesaving, it is required that the action be performed at the risk of one's own life. To rise to this level, it must be clearly established that the act involved very specific life-threatening risk to the awardee. "I believe it was Ernest Hemingway who said, 'a hero is one who displays grace under pressure.' I don't think anyone will question the pressure these sailors felt that evening and into the early morning. The pressure of knowing their lives were on the line," said Nees. Wise deflected praise on to his fellow shipmates. "The medal is for DOLPHIN. I'm just the lucky one who gets to wear it," said the California native.
NOTE: USS DOLPHIN was a deep-diving research and development submarine, and the Navy’s last operational diesel-electric submarine. DOLPHIN set many records and although the exact depth has never been revealed, it is reported that DOLPHIN has dived to depths in excess of 3,000 feet. DOLPHIN was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in January 2007 and is now a museum ship under the management of the San Diego Maritime Museum. Unfortunately MMC Wise died on April 16, 2007, after a four year battle with colon cancer. Following a memorial service with full military honors at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, his ashes were scattered in a private family ceremony.
Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)
