William M. Callaghan

Rear Admiral William McCombe Callaghan (August 8 1897–July 8, 1991), born in Chevy Chase, Maryland, was a U.S. naval officer and the first commander of the USS "Missouri" (BB-63).

Callaghan graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1918. After commanding the USS "Reuben James" (DD-245) in 1936, he joined the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in 1939.

In 1944, Captain Callaghan was named the first commanding officer of the Missouri, the Navy's newest battleship.

On April 11 1945, USS Missouri was struck by a kamikaze off the coast of Okinawa. The damage was minor, and no one died aboard this battleship except the Japanese pilot, believed to be second class petty officer Setsuo Ishino(石野節雄), whose body was recovered. Captain Callaghan insisted that the young Japanese airman had done his job to the best of his ability and with honor and deserved a military funeral. The following day, April 12 1945, the pilot was given a military funeral at sea.

During the Korean War, Callaghan commanded U.S. naval forces in the Far East. He retired in 1957.

Admiral Callaghan died July 8 1991, at Bethesda Naval Hospital after suffering a stroke.

External links

* [http://www.ussmissouri.com/ USS Missouri Memorial site]
* [http://www.ussmissouri.org/crewdetail.aspx?ID=1068 Captain William Callaghan]
* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wmcallaghan.htm Arlington National Cemetery Information]