View source for Richard Miles McCool

{{short description|United States Navy officer, recipient of the Medal of Honor}}
{{Infobox military person
| name          = Richard Miles McCool Jr.
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1922|1|4}}
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2008|3|5|1922|1|4}}
| birth_place   = [[Tishomingo, Oklahoma]]
| death_place   = [[Bremerton, Washington]]
| placeofburial = US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
| image         = Capt._Richard_McCool_(USN)_Medal_of_Honor.jpg
| caption       = Captain McCool receives photograph from RADM French in 2006 at ceremony presenting McCool the Medal of Honor Flag
| nickname      = 
| allegiance    = United States
| branch        = [[United States Navy]]
| serviceyears  = 1944–1974
| rank          = [[Captain (United States)|Captain]]
| commands      = 
| unit          = [[USS LCS(L)(3)-122|USS ''LCS(L)(3)-122'']]
| battles       = [[World War II]]
*[[Battle of Okinawa]]
| awards        = [[Medal of Honor]]
| relations     = 
| laterwork     = 
}}

'''Richard Miles McCool Jr.''' (January 4, 1922 &ndash; March 5, 2008) was a [[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.<ref name=Ada>Kelly, "The 'right stuff'", November 12, 2007.</ref>

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, he was accepted into a new collegiate Naval ROTC program, and later was appointed to the [[United States Naval Academy]].<ref name=Ada/> He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1944 as an ensign (his class of 1945 graduated a year early) and <ref name=Obit>Friedrich, "McCool Remembered as Hero, Democratic Leader", March 10, 2008.</ref><ref name=USNA>{{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]]
}}</ref> was assigned to [[Naval Air Station Jacksonville]], Florida. In December 1944, following training at the Amphibious Training Station Solomons, Maryland, he assumed command of {{USS|LCS(L)(3)-122}}, a [[Landing Craft Support]] ship and was promoted to [[Lieutenant (navy)|lieutenant]] in January 1945.<ref name=USNbio>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-people/m/mccool-richard-m.html|title=McCool, Richard M.|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|accessdate=21 September 2022}}{{PD-notice}}</ref> On June 10, 1945, off the coast of [[Okinawa Island]], McCool helped rescue the survivors of sinking [[destroyer]] {{USS|William D. Porter|DD-579|6}}. The next day, his own ship was hit by a [[Japan]]ese [[kamikaze]]. Although he suffered severe burns and [[Shrapnel shell|shrapnel]] wounds in the initial explosion, McCool continued to lead his crew in the firefighting and rescue efforts until relief arrived.

In January 1946, McCool was reverted to [[lieutenant (junior grade)]]. In July, he assumed command of USS LSC 44, then transferred to the destroyer {{USS|McKean|DD-784|6}}. In July 1947, he became the aide to commandant, [[Eighth Naval District]] at [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. After instructor duty at the [[University of Oklahoma]] with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps in June 1949, he received orders to {{USS|Frank Knox|DD-742|6}}, later transferring to {{USS|Leyte|CV-32|6}}. In January 1951, he was promoted to lieutenant. Completing Armed Forces Information School at [[Fort Slocum]], New York, in June, he received orders to Commander Naval Base, Long Beach, California, and served as the public information officer. A year later, he returned for duty at the Eighth Naval District. In July 1954, he received orders to be the assistant for public information at [[Boston University]], Boston, Massachusetts. In June 1955, he was promoted to [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]] and assigned to the [[Bureau of Naval Personnel]] in Washington, D.C. The following year, he reported overseas as a staff member of commander, [[South East Asia Treaty Organization]] at [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]]. In December 1958, he was assigned staff duty with commandant of the [[Ninth Naval District]] at Great Lakes, Illinois, where he was promoted to [[Commander (United States)|commander]] in July 1960. In April 1961, he reported to serve on the staff of commander, [[United States First Fleet|First Fleet]] and transferred three years later for duty with commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan. Returning to the U.S., he continued staff duty with commander, [[Seventh Fleet]]. In July 1965, he was promoted to [[Captain (United States O-6)|captain]]. In April 1966, he became Deputy Commander of the [[Defense Information School]] at [[Fort Benjamin Harrison]], Indiana. Following his service in various public affairs posts, he retired from active duty in 1974 with the rank of captain and became active in local politics in the Bremerton, Washington, area.<ref name=USNbio/><ref name=Ada/><ref name="Obit"/>

McCool died of natural causes on March 5, 2008, at the age of 86 in a hospital in [[Bremerton, Washington]].<ref name=Obit/>

==Medal of Honor citation==
[[File:USS William D. Porter (DD-579) sinking after a Kamikaze attack off Okinawa, 10 June 1945 (80-G-490024).jpg|right|thumb|305px|{{USS|William D. Porter|DD-579|6}} sinking. McCool's [[USS LCS(L)(3)-122|''LCS(L)(3)-122'']] is behind [[USS LCS(L)(3)-86|''LCS(L)(3)-86'']] ]]

Lieutenant McCool's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
<blockquote>For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the USS ''LCS(L)(3)-122'' during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryukyu chain]], 10 and 11 June 1945. Sharply vigilant during hostile air raids against [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] ships on radar picket duty off Okinawa on 10 June, Lt. McCool aided materially in evacuating all survivors from a sinking destroyer which had sustained mortal damage under the devastating attacks. When his own craft was attacked simultaneously by 2 of the enemy's suicide squadron early in the evening of 11 June, he instantly hurled the full power of his gun batteries against the plunging aircraft, shooting down the first and damaging the second before it crashed his station in the [[conning tower]] and engulfed the immediate area in a mass of flames. Although suffering from shrapnel wounds and painful burns, he rallied his concussion-shocked crew and initiated vigorous firefighting measures and then proceeded to the rescue of several trapped in a blazing compartment, subsequently carrying 1 man to safety despite the excruciating pain of additional severe burns. Unmindful of all personal danger, he continued his efforts without respite until aid arrived from other ships and he was evacuated. By his staunch leadership, capable direction, and indomitable determination throughout the crisis, Lt. McCool saved the lives of many who otherwise might have perished and contributed materially to the saving of his ship for further combat service. His valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of extreme peril sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.</blockquote>

==USS ''Richard M. McCool Jr.'' (LPD-29)==
The last of the Flight I {{sclass|San Antonio|amphibious transport dock|1}}s, built at [[Huntington Ingalls]], [[Pascagoula, Mississippi|Pascagoula]] [[Mississippi]], has been named {{USS|Richard M. McCool Jr.|LPD-29|6}} in his honor.

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II#M|List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite web
 |publisher = [[United States Army Center of Military History]]
 |title = Medal of Honor recipients - World War II (M-S)
 |work = Medal of Honor citations
 |date = June 8, 2009
 |url = http://www.history.army.mil//html/moh/wwII-m-s.html
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071221032013/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-m-s.html
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-date = December 21, 2007
 |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
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080314004437/http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/mar/10/mccool-remembered-as-hero-democratic-leader/
 |archivedate = March 14, 2008
}}
*{{cite news
|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
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825204424/http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/23/321631.aspx
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2007-08-25
|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}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCool, Richard Miles}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Tishomingo, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:People from Bainbridge Island, Washington]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:University of Oklahoma alumni]]
[[Category:World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor]]