![]() ![]() During Balao’s six war patrol, he wryly noted that, “A grim battle was waged throughout the patrol between the crew and cockroaches. Known for his humor, Ramirez de Arellano would include funny commentary in Balao’s war patrol reports. ![]() For his World War II service, Ramirez de Arellano earned two Silver Stars, a Legion of Merit, and a Bronze Star. When Ramirez took command of Balao in April 1944, as a 31-year-old lieutenant commander, he became the first Hispanic American officer to command a U.S. He made five war patrols in submarines during World War II, serving as diving officer on USS Pi ckerel (SS 177), executive officer on USS Skate (SS 305), and commanding officer of USS Balao (SS 285). Rear Admiral Kauffman is often remembered as “America’s first frogman” for the nickname given to the combat swimmers of the UDTs and NCDUs.Ĭaptain Marion Frederic Ramirez de Arellanoįirst Hispanic American submarine commanding officer, 1944īorn in Puerto Rico in 1913 to two university professors, Marion Frederic Ramirez de Arellano attended the U.S. He served as the Commanding Officer of Underwater Demolition Team #5 and as the Senior Staff Officer and Underwater Demolition Training Officer for Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet. As Commanding Officer, Kauffman developed the school’s curriculum, which included a week of intensive training that spawned the infamous phrase “Hell Week.”ĭuring the last two years of World War II, Kauffman worked with the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs), groups of combat swimmers that surveilled future amphibious landing sites and cleared them of obstacles. The following year Kauffman established another significant first: the Naval Combat Demolition Unit (NCDU) school which trained sailors in demolitions to clear invasion sites. Kauffman not only established the Navy’s school, he assisted the Army in creating a parallel school in Aberdeen, Maryland. Naval Bomb Disposal School at the Washington Navy Yard. In 1942, the Navy charged Kauffman with founding a U.S. Navy Reserve and began work at the Bureau of Ordnance. In November 1941, Kauffman accepted an appointment as a lieutenant in the U.S. In the latter position he served as a bomb and mine disposal officer with the Royal Navy which gave him valuable experience disarming explosive ordnance. Forced to resign his naval commission due to poor eyesight, Kauffman joined the American Volunteer Ambulance Corps in April 1940 and then the British Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve that September. Draper Kauffman spearheaded combat demolition in the U.S. ![]()
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