Arnold E . True Arnold E . True ( January 23 , 1901 – December 11 , 1979 ) was an American military officer in the U . S . Navy . He commanded the " Sims " - class destroyer USS " Hammann " . Early life . Arnold Ellsworth True was born in Owenton , Kentucky on January 23 , 1901 and graduated from the U . S . Naval Academy in 1920 . His early naval career included serving in cruisers , destroyers , and other ships , as well as with airships until 1929 , when he began studying Aerology and Meteorology . After receiving his Master of Science Degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1931 , he practiced those disciplines in a variety of Navy positions . World War II service . Lieutenant Commander True attended the Naval War College in 1938 - 39 and then assumed command of the new destroyer USS " Hammann " ( DD - 412 ) in August 1939 . His ship was part of the destroyer screen assigned to protect the USS " Yorktown " ( CV - 5 ) during the pivotal showdown with the Japanese Navy at The Battle of Midway . On June 6 , 1942 , after the carrier was damaged by Japanese dive bombers , his destroyer was ordered alongside the " Yorktown " to provide pumping power as part of a massive effort to keep the vessel afloat so that it could be salvaged . According to the official Navy record : The first torpedo appeared to pass under the " Hammann " in the vicinity of No . 2 gun and exploded against the side of the " Yorktown " . The second torpedo struck the " Hammann " in # 2 fireroom . This torpedo apparently broke the ship ' s back as a pronounced sag was noted in this vicinity . The forward bulkhead of forward engine room was carried away . Large quantities of oil , water , and debris were blown high into the air coming down on both " Hammann " and " Yorktown " . The " Hammann " was blown out from the " Yorktown " and aft parting all mooring lines and hoses . The commanding officer received a heavy blow in the solar plexus by being thrown against a desk in the pilot house , which rendered him temporarily unable to breathe or speak and later proved to have broken a rib . The ship began to settle immediately and the Executive Officer , who was on the bridge passed the word " All hands abandon ship . " By the time the Commanding Officer was able to walk from the Pilot House to the starboard wing of the bridge , the main deck forward was awash and the ship was settling rapidly by the head . Life rafts had been launched and a great number of men were on the rafts or in the water . As soon as all personnel were clear of the bridge , the Gunnery Officer , Executive Officer and Commanding Officer climbed down the outside ladder to the forecastle deck . The forecastle deck was just submerging and all three swam clear of the ship . It is estimated that the ship sunk within three to four minutes from the time of the first torpedo explosion . In the four minutes it took for the " Hammann " to sink , 80 of her crew were killed either by the torpedo blast , the sinking , or the setting off of her depth charges as she went down . True went on to command Destroyer Division Four from late 1942 to 1943 , and then served in a variety of Navy Weather and Aerology billets until he retired . Awards and decorations . During his career and service True earned numerous awards , including the Navy Cross , the Distinguished Service Medal , and two battle stars . Retirement . Capt . True retired from active duty in December 1946 and was simultaneously advanced to the Flag rank of Rear Admiral . For much of the balance of his life , Admiral True wrote and lectured about the war in the Pacific . He died on December 11 , 1979 in Palo Alto , California at the age of 78 .