Roy M. Davenport

Roy M. Davenport

Rear Admiral Roy Milton Davenport (June 18, 1909 – December 24, 1987) was an officer in the United States Navy. He is the first individual and only sailor to be awarded five Navy Crosses, the United States military's second highest decoration for valor. Admiral Davenport was awarded these military decorations while serving as a submarine commander in the Pacific during World War II.

Davenport made 10 submarine war patrols, six as commanding officer. It was during these six patrols, in command of Gato-class submarines USS Haddock and USS Trepang, that he received five Navy Crosses, two Silver Star Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Presidential Unit Citations, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon. Besides nine additional military awards, he was awarded the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia with 2 silver star devices (for ten war patrols). These are documented in his autobiography, Clean Sweep, 1986.

A student of Christian Science, Davenport was dubbed the "praying skipper" and was known for his daring attacks against Japanese ships, often executed on the surface to gain additional speed. In all, he was credited during the Pacific War with sinking 17 Japanese ships and damaging 10, but this was reduced to 8 by JANAC postwar evaluations. While none of the men under his command were lost, he and his crews experienced many close calls and escapes. He credited his religious faith for his successes.