Morton C . Mumma Rear Admiral Morton Claire Mumma , Jr . ( 1904 – 1968 ) was a senior officer in the United States Navy . He was awarded the Navy Cross on 13 December 1941 during World War II , while commanding . He later served as naval aide to Secretary James Forrestal in 1944 – 45 , and retired in 1946 . Mumma was president of the National Rifle Association from 1955 to 1957 , and at his death was on the association ' s executive council . Early life . Morton C . Mumma , Jr . , was born on 24 August 1904 at Manila , Philippine Islands . He was the eldest son of Colonel Morton C . Mumma , United States Army . He attended schools in Iowa City , Iowa . Appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1921 , he graduated in the class of 1925 . Colonel Mumma was noted as " expert rifle shot , " and he passed his skills to his son . Mumma , Jr . , was captain of the Academy rifle team , and coach of the Academy rifle team twice , from 1928 – 1929 , and from 1938 – 1940 . Upon graduation , he joined the Navy service - wide rifle team . Prior to attending submarine school at Groton , Connecticut in 1928 , Mumma served in destroyer s . One of his first commands was the submarine from 1935 until 1938 . Originally based at Pearl Harbor , the submarine relocated to Coco Solo , in the Panama Canal Zone , in 1936 . World War II . He was awarded the Navy Cross on 13 December 1941 during World War II , while serving aboard , after making contact with two Japanese destroyers , and bravely began a submerged attack ; the destroyers detected her , dropping a couple of depth charge s , while " Sailfish " fired two torpedoes . Despite a large explosion nearby , no damage was done , and the destroyers counterattacked with 18 - 20 depth charges . The depth charging led Mumma to suffer a breakdown and he was relieved . Navy Cross Citation . The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Morton Claire Mumma , Jr . , United States Navy , for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U . S . S . " SAILFISH " ( SS - 192 ) , on the FIRST War Patrol of that submarine in enemy controlled waters of off Luzon , Philippine Islands . On the night of 13 December 1941 , the ship made contact with a convoy escorted by three Japanese destroyers . Lieutenant Commander Mumma boldly maneuvered his submarine into striking position despite enemy depth charge counter measures and directed operations and fire to score a torpedo hit on an enemy destroyer . Through his experience and sound judgment Lieutenant Commander Mumma 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 . Patrol boat service . Following duty with the Southwest Pacific submarine staff , and then as naval liaison to Fifth Air Force , on 5 February 1943 Mumma became Commander , Task Group 50 . 1 , the PT boat s in the Southwest Pacific . On 15 March , with the creation the US Seventh Fleet , Task Group 50 . 1 became Task Group 70 . 1 , Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Seventh Fleet . Mumma " was responsible directly to , and only to , the Commander Seventh Fleet . Furthermore , from the start he had full operational control of his boats , and specific areas were assigned for PT operations . As a task group commander he received complete information as to the movements of other naval vessels . " Mumma ' s headquarters were at Milne Bay , Papua New Guinea . In early March 1943 , Mumma ' s PT boats , leaving from Tufi , Papua New Guinea , took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea . Late 3 March , Mumma ' s boats sank the " Oigawa Maru " ( 6 , 493 tons ) . In April , Mumma moved his advance base from Tufi to Morobe , Papua New Guinea . Nassau Bay , southeast of Salamaua , was captured at Mumma ' s suggestion that a supply base there would shorten the supply line to the 3rd Australian Division . Mumma ' s PT boats were used for the first time as troop carriers , carrying 70 soldiers in addition to the crew . Mumma ' s PT boats continued their raiding actions in support of the New Guinea campaign . In December 1943 , Mumma received this letter from Australian General Frank H . Berryman : On 8 February 1944 , Mumma was relieved as Commander Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Seventh Fleet and Commander Task Group 70 . 1 For his service , Commander Mumma was awarded a Legion of Merit with a gold star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit . Later life . During 1944 and 1945 , Mumma was the naval aide to the US Secretary of the Navy , James Forrestal . Mumma ' s picture ( top ) shows him wearing the 4 - loop blue and gold aiguilette as the aide to the last cabinet - level Secretary of the Navy . Mumma ' s time as aide was the last year of World War II ; Forrestal was concerned with war termination and Navy demobilization . Leaving duty as Forrestal ' s aide , Mumma assumed responsibilities as the Planning Control Director of the Bureau of Naval Personnel . He retired from active duty in 1946 , only to be recalled for the Korean War . His last military assignment was as the Chief Planning Officer for the Selective Service System from 1951 to 1953 . From 1955 to 1957 , Admiral Mumma was president of the National Rifle Association , and until his death was a member of the association ' s executive council . Continuing his interest in rifle marksmanship , Mumma was a long - time member of the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice . Like his father had ( in 1904 ) , Mumma earned NBPRP " Distinguished Marksman " in 1927 . Rear Admiral Mumma died of cancer in 1968 . Legacy . Mort Bay , 15 miles north of Morobe , Papua New Guinea , was named by Australian hydrographers in Commander Mumma ' s honor . Mort Bay was the point of departure for the landing at Nassau Bay , 29 June 1943 . " The Mumma Trophy " is presented to the national champion rifle marksman by the National Rifle Association . The trophy , a large silver urn on a wooden pedestal , is inscribed :