Richard Miles McCool

Infobox Military Person
name=Richard Miles McCool, Jr.
born= birth date|1922|1|4
died= death date and age|2008|3|5|1922|1|4
placeofbirth=Tishomingo, Oklahoma
placeofdeath=Bremerton, Washington
placeofburial=


caption=CaptainMcCool receives photograph from RADM French in 2006 at ceremony presenting McCool the Medal of Honor Flag
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=United States Navy
serviceyears=1944-1974
rank=Captain
commands=
unit=USS "LCS(L)(3)-122"
battles=World War II *Battle of Okinawa Korean War Vietnam War
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Richard Miles McCool, Jr. (January 4 1922-March 5, 2008) was a retired United States Navy officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II.

Biography

Richard M. McCool, Jr. was born on January 4, 1922 in Oklahoma. McCool graduated from high school at the age of 15. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in political science.Kelly, "The 'right stuff'", November 12, 2007.]

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, he was accepted into a new Navy ROTC program, and later was appointed to the Naval Academy. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1944 (his class of 1945 graduated a year early).Friedrich, "McCool Remembered as Hero, Democratic Leader", March 10, 2008.] cite web|accessdate=2008-03-10
url=http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Notables/MOH/index.htm
title=Medal of Honor Recipients
work=Notable Graduates
publisher=United States Naval Academy] By June 10 1945, he was serving as a lieutenant on the USS|LCS(L)(3)-122, a Landing Craft Support ship. On that day, off the coast of Okinawa Island, McCool helped rescue the survivors of sinking destroyer USS|William D. Porter|DD-579. The next day, his own ship was hit by a Japanese kamikaze. Although he suffered severe burns and shrapnel wounds in the initial explosion, McCool continued to lead his crew in the firefighting and rescue efforts until relief arrived.

He also served in the Korean War and in the Vietnam War.Friedrich, "McCool Remembered as Hero, Democratic Leader", March 10, 2008.] He retired at the rank of Captain in 1974 after a 30-year career.Friedrich, "McCool Remembered as Hero, Democratic Leader", March 10, 2008.] .

McCool died of natural causes on March 5, 2008 at the age of 86 in a hospital in Bremerton, Washington.

Medal of Honor citation

Lieutenant McCool's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

Notes

References

*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (M-S)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = July 16 2007
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/html/moh/wwII-m-s.html
accessdate = 2007-09-05

*cite news|accessdate=2008-03-10
url=http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/mar/10/mccool-remembered-as-hero-democratic-leader/
title=McCool Remembered as Hero, Democratic Leader
author=Friedrich, Ed
date=March 10, 2008
work=Kitsap Sun

*cite news|accessdate=2008-03-10
url=
date=November 12, 2007
title= "The 'right stuff': Tishomingo native, Ret. Navy Capt. Richard McCool, state’s only living Medal-of-Honor winner"
author=Kelley, Leo
work=Ada Evening News

External links

*cite news|accessdate=2008-03-10
url=http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/23/321631.aspx
title=Medal of Honor: Richard M. McCool, Jr.
work=The Daily Nightly
publisher=MSNBC.com

*cite news|accessdate=2008-03-13
url=http://www.normantranscript.com/localnews/local_story_072234504.html
title=McCool a 'humble hero'
author=Carter, M. Scott
date=March 12, 2008
work=The Norman Transcript

Persondata
NAME= Mccool, Richard Miles
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=