Creed Burlingame

Rear Admiral Creed Cardwell Burlingame (February 27, 1905 - October 21, 1985) was an officer in the United States Navy. He served as a submarine commander in the Pacific during World War II.

History
Burlingame was a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and grew up in the Midwest. In June 1927 he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy as an ensign and served aboard the Battleship Utah. He subsequently graduated from the Submarine School in New London, Connecticut in 1930. He served as a submarine officer in service with the Asiatic fleet, and served aboard one of the few U.S. submarines stationed at the China station. Submarine-related commands immediately prior to and during World War II included Captain of the USS S-36 (SS-141) (8 May 1936 - 1 January 1939]], duty at Submarine Base New London (1 July 1939 - 1 July 1940), Captain of the USS S-30 (SS-135) (31 August 1940 - 7 December 1941), commissioning and first commanding officer of the USS Silversides (SS-236) (15 December 1941 - 20 July 1943), Commander Submarine Division One Hundred Eighty Two (1 November 1943 - 15 July 1945), and Acting Commander Submarine Squadron Eighteen (17 December 1944 - 8 January 1945).

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Commander Burlingame was immediately transferred to the USS Silversides for her commissioning at Mare Island, California on 15 December 1941. It was his sixth submarine and third command. After a brief shakedown off the California coast, he sailed Silversides for Hawaii, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 4 April 1942 and left for his first combat patrol on 30 April 1942. He was promoted to Commander on 10 September 1942. Burlingame commanded Silversides for a total of five patrols, sinking eight enemy ships for a total 44,000 tons. While commanding the Silversides, the ship and crew received a presidential citation and Burlingame earned two Silver Stars and three Navy Crosses. As commander of the 182d Submarine Division in the Pacific, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Following World War II, Burlingame served in various assignments, including command of the USS Roanoke from 15 September 1953 to 3 March 1955.<ref web He retired in 1957, at the rank of rear admiral.