"Take Her Down!"

As commanding officer of the U.S. submarine GROWLER (SS-215) during her fourth war patrol in the Southwest Pacific from 10 January to 7 February 1943, Commander Gilmore displayed distinguished gallantry and valor above and beyond the call of duty. Despite continuous hostile air and anti-submarine patrols, he sank one Japanese freighter and damaged another by torpedo fire, successfully evading severe depth charges after each attack. In the darkness on 7 February, an enemy gunboat closed range and prepared to ram GROWLER, but Gilmore maneuvered to avoid the collision and rammed the attacker instead, tearing into her port side at 17 knots and bursting her plates. Under the heavy machine-gun fire of the sinking gunboat, he ordered, "Clear the Bridge," and remained on deck while his men went below. Mortally struck by bullets, he gave his final order to the officer of the deck: "Take her down." GROWLER dived, badly damaged but under control, and her well-trained crew brought her safely to port, inspired by the courageous fighting spirit of their dead captain. Before his loss on GROWLER, Commander Gilmore had also received the Navy Cross with one gold star, the Purple Heart Medal, the American Defense Medal with Fleet Clasp, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War Two Victory Medal, and Submarine Combat insignia with three stars.

Mobile, Alabama · United States