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Michael Kohan (Mikey), ATCS
to remember
Callaghan, Daniel Judson (Dan), RADM.
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Casualty Info
Home Town San Francisco, CA
Last Address USS San Francisco in the Pacific.
Casualty Date Nov 13, 1942
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Buried at Sea, Pacific Ocean
Wall/Plot Coordinates buried at sea in Ironbottom Sound off Guadalcanal
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
At 1416 on 12 November 1942, an already-damaged torpedo bomber dropped its torpedo off San Francisco's starboard quarter. The torpedo passed alongside, but the plane crashed into San Francisco's control aft, swung around that structure, and plunged over the port side into the sea.
15 men were killed, 29 wounded, and one missing. Control aft was demolished. The ship's secondary command post, Battle Two, was burned out but was reestablished by dark. The after anti-aircraft director and radar were put out of commission. Three 20 mm mounts were destroyed. The wounded were transferred to President Jackson, just before the approach of an enemy surface force was reported.
RADM Callaghan was killed in action and buried at sea.
Comments/Citation:
Medal of Honor
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. San Francisco (CA-38)
Citation: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Rear Admiral Daniel Judson Callaghan (NSN: 0-7635), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on board the U.S.S. San Francisco, during action against enemy Japanese forces off Savo Island on the night of 12 - 13 November 1942.
...
Although out-balanced in strength and numbers by a desperate and determined enemy, Rear Admiral Callaghan, with ingenious tactical skill and superb coordination of the units under his command, led his forces into battle against tremendous odds, thereby contributing decisively to the rout of a powerful invasion fleet, and to the consequent frustration of a formidable Japanese offensive.
...
While faithfully directing close-range operations in the face of furious bombardment by superior enemy firepower, he was killed on the bridge of his flagship.
...
His courageous initiative, inspiring leadership, and judicious foresight in a crisis of grave responsibility were in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country."
Two ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Callaghan, in honor of Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan.
USS Callaghan (DD-792), was a Fletcher-class destroyer, launched in 1943 and sunk during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.
USS Callaghan (DDG-994), was a Kidd-class guided missile destroyer, launched in 1979 and struck in 1998.
USS Callaghan (DDG-994) commissioned
Date
Aug 29, 1981
Last Updated: Jul 26, 2020
Comments
Derived from the Spruance class, USS Callaghan (DD-994/DDG-994) was the second ship of the Kidd class of destroyers operated by the U.S. Navy. These vessels were designed for air defense in hot weather. She was named for Rear Admiral Daniel Judson Callaghan, who was killed in action aboard his flagship, the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942.
Originally named Daryush, Callaghan was ordered by the Shah of Iran, but was undelivered when the 1979 Iranian Revolution occurred. Subsequent to this, the U.S. Navy elected to commission her and her sister ships for service in the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea, as they were equipped with heavy-duty air conditioning and were also well suited to filtering sand and the results from NBC warfare.
She was commissioned in 1981, and home ported in San Diego, California at North Island.
On September 1 1983 Callaghan was on deployment to the Western Pacific, and making a port visit in Sasebo, Japan. Korean Air Lines flight 007, on its way from Anchorage, Alaska to Seoul, Korea, carrying 269 passengers and crew, strayed into Soviet airspace. A Soviet Sukhoi 15 fighter jet was sent up to destroy the intruding Boeing 747. After the attack, the Callaghan's crew was recalled and sent to search for survivors. Being the first and only US ship on station, the Russian Navy wasn't rolling out the welcome mats, and Callaghan and her crew were in a game of cat and mouse with the Russian Navy until other US ships arrived. No survivors were found, but some remains were recovered. Callaghan and her crew were never rewarded for this heroic act of leaping into the lions mouth. Russia was not happy to have us there and helping to air her dirty laundry.
Earned her first Battle Efficiency E for grade period Jul 1983 to Dec 1984.
Earned the Humanitarian Service Medal saving two boatloads of people in the South China Sea area.
For grading period Jan 1985 to Jun 1986 Callaghan earned her second Battle Efficiency E by winning all the awards from the ships in competition. On her return to port, with the news of her clean sweep, the Captain ordered that every lanyard on the ship would display a broom, to honor the crew and show all ships present the outstanding accomplishment. Clean sweeps are rare.
Callaghan was decommissioned in 1998.
Callaghan was sold to the Republic of China in 2004. She was originally to be named Ming Teh (DDG-1802), but it was later decided to name her Su Ao, after the Su-Ao naval base in eastern Taiwan, and become the second ship of the new ROCN Kee Lung class of destroyers.
After almost two years of refit and training in the U.S., Su Ao was commissioned on 17 December 2005 at Kee-Lung naval port in northern Taiwan.