Maurice H . Rindskopf Maurice Herbert Rindskopf ( 1917 – 2011 ) was the youngest officer to ascend to command of a Fleet Submarine in World War II ; and until his death , was the last living World War II submarine commander . His entire World War II submarine career was spent on board , where he was awarded a Silver Star as a Lieutenant in charge of torpedoes and gunnery , and the Navy Cross as its commanding officer . He culminated his career as a Rear Admiral and the Director of Naval Intelligence . Early life and career . A native of Brooklyn , New York , Rindskopf graduated from the U . S . Naval Academy in 1938 . He was assigned to the battleship for two years . Beginning submarine training in 1940 , he joined the crew of in time for World War II . Rindskopf served on board " Drum " for eleven patrols and was awarded a Silver Star as a junior officer for torpedo and gunnery excellence . As a junior officer , he would often take the night watch and decode messages advising of targets . He would tell the crew of a target nearby by wearing " a garish yellow aloha shirt I had purchased in Honolulu , and lo ! we went to Battle Stations . " He married Sylvia Lubow on April 16 , 1941 ; their only child , civil rights lawyer Peter Rindskopf , was born on July 25 , 1942 . Silver Star citation . The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Maurice Herbert Rindskopf ( NSN : 0 - 81027 ) , United States Navy , for gallantry and intrepidity in combat during World War II . During four extensive War Patrols of the U . S . S . DRUM ( SS - 228 ) in enemy waters and despite determined enemy opposition he courageously and skillfully performed his duties as Torpedo and Gunnery Officer of a United States Submarine and thus assisted materially in the sinking of an important amount of Japanese shipping . His excellent judgment and coolness under fire contributed in a large measure to the success of the ship . His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service . Command of USS Drum . As second - in - command ( Executive Officer ) of " Drum " in June 1944 , just prior to " Drum ' s " tenth patrol , the incumbent commanding officer developed gall stones . Rindskopf wrote of it in an unpublished autobiography : I was given two choices : To take command , or to break in yet another skipper . The decision was easy , and I became the first in the [ U . S . Naval Academy ] class of 1938 to command a fleet boat on patrol . During his first patrol in command Rindskopf only came across targets too small for a torpedo . He sank them by gunfire and brought the survivors aboard , putting them to work in the galley ( kitchen ) . They became " Drum ' s " cooks . " Drum " did not sink another ship in World War II following Rindskopf ' s detachment . Navy Cross Citation . The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Maurice Herbert Rindskopf ( NSN : 0 - 81027 ) , United States Navy , for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U . S . S . DRUM ( SS - 228 ) , on the ELEVENTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 9 September 1944 to 8 November 1944 , in enemy controlled waters of the Luzon Straits in the Philippine Islands . Through his daring , aggressive spirit and tenacity , Commander Rindskopf skillfully launched well - planned and smartly executed attacks which resulted in the sinking of enemy ships totaling over 24 , 000 tons and in damaging additional vessels totaling over 8 , 000 tons . Through his experience and sound judgment Commander Rindskopf brought his ship safely back to port . His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service . Post - war career . After World War II , Rindskopf refined submarine fire control and tactics ; commanded ; had command of the U . S . Naval Submarine School in Groton , CT ; commanded two submarine flotillas ; explored the use of hydrofoils in harbor defense ; became the Director of Naval Intelligence ; and Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence for the Commander in Chief , U . S . Pacific Fleet . Retiring from the Navy in 1972 , Rindskopf worked for Westinghouse for 16 years . Death . Rindskopf died of prostate cancer on July 27 , 2010 at his home in Annapolis . His wife and son preceded him in death ; he was survived by his granddaughter Amy Kathryn Rindskopf and two great - grandsons . Several obituaries ( e . g . " The Annapolis Capital " , " Naval History Magazine " ) confused Rindskopf ' s eleven patrols onboard " Drum " as eleven patrols in command of " Drum " . He was only in command for patrols 10 and 11 , yet he had a hand in every sinking in " Drum ' s " history .