Medal of Honor: George Levick Street III – World War II – April 14, 1945

Name: George Levick Street III
Rank: Commander (then Lieutenant Commander)
Branch: U.S. Navy
War: World War II
Unit: Commanding Officer, USS Tirante
Date of Action: April 14, 1945
Location: Harbor of Quelpart Island, off the coast of Korea

Summary of Action

On 14 April 1945, Commander George Levick Street III commanded the submarine USS Tirante during a daring attack against Japanese shipping in the harbor of Quelpart Island off Korea.

During Tirante’s first war patrol, Street approached the enemy anchorage on the surface with the crew at battle stations.

He maneuvered within 1,200 yards of the coast while completing a reconnaissance circuit of the island.

Then, leaving safer waters behind, he penetrated directly into a restricted harbor filled with mines, shoals, patrol craft, shore-based radar stations, and hostile aircraft.

Prepared to fight on the surface if discovered, Street pressed forward.

Once in position, he fired two torpedoes with deadly accuracy into a large Japanese ammunition ship.

The target exploded in a towering glare of white flames, instantly illuminating Tirante for all to see.

Now exposed in the enemy harbor, Street coolly ordered a new firing solution while withdrawing.

He launched his final two torpedoes, which struck and destroyed the leading frigate and another similar escort vessel in rapid succession.

With enemy forces reacting, Street drove Tirante from the shattered harbor at emergency full speed.

He slipped along the shoreline unnoticed, then submerged just as pursuing patrol craft arrived and dropped depth charges on the point where the submarine had vanished.

His bold leadership, precision under pressure, and extraordinary seamanship reflected the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

STREET, GEORGE LEVICK, III

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Tirante during the first war patrol of that vessel against enemy Japanese surface forces in the harbor of Quelpart Island, off the coast of Korea, on 14 April 1945. With the crew at surface battle stations, Comdr. (then Lt. Comdr.) Street approached the hostile anchorage from the south within 1,200 yards of the coast to complete a reconnoitering circuit of the island. Leaving the 10-fathom curve far behind he penetrated the mined and shoal-obstructed waters of the restricted harbor despite numerous patrolling vessels and in defiance of 5 shore-based radar stations and menacing aircraft. Prepared to fight it out on the surface if attacked, Comdr. Street went into action, sending 2 torpedoes with deadly accuracy into a large Japanese ammunition ship and exploding the target in a mountainous and blinding glare of white flames. With the Tirante instantly spotted by the enemy as she stood out plainly in the flare of light, he ordered the torpedo data computer set up while retiring and fired his last 2 torpedoes to disintegrate in quick succession the leading frigate and a similar flanking vessel. Clearing the gutted harbor at emergency full speed ahead, he slipped undetected along the shoreline, diving deep as a pursuing patrol dropped a pattern of depth charges at the point of submergence. His illustrious record of combat achievement during the first war patrol of the Tirante characterizes Comdr. Street as a daring and skilled leader and reflects the highest credit upon himself, his valiant command, and the U.S. Naval Service.