Background
Richard M. McCool, Junior. was born on January 4, 1922 in Oklahoma.
Richard M. McCool, Junior. was born on January 4, 1922 in Oklahoma.
McCool graduated from high school at the age of 15. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in political science. He graduated from the United States. Naval Academy in 1944 (his class of 1945 graduated a year early).
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, he was accepted into a new Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps program, and later was appointed to the Naval Academy. By June 10, 1945, he was serving as a lieutenant on the United States Ship LCS(L)(3)-122, a Landing Craft Support ship. On that day, off the coast of Okinawa Island, McCool helped rescue the survivors of sinking destroyer United States Ship William Doctorate. Porter (Doctor of Divinity-579).
The next day, his own ship was hit by a Japanese kamikaze.
Although he suffered severe burns and shrapnel wounds in the initial explosion, McCool continued to lead his crew in the firefighting and rescue efforts until relief arrived. He also served in the Korean War and in the Vietnam War.
He retired at the rank of Captain in 1974 after a 30-year career. McCool died of natural causes on March 5, 2008 at the age of 86 in a hospital in Bremerton, Washington.
