The Jewish Welfare Board today reported that Naval Lt. Ralph Pleatman of Cincinnati, Ohio, has received five letters of commendation from high Navy Department officials, and is the recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for “outstanding service in a submarine on war patrol.” Lieutenant Pleatman was in command of a submarine which sent a destroyer and eight other enemy ships to the bottom — an estimated 40,000 tons of Japanese shipping.
Earlier, he had been serving aboard a sub on an extended Pacific cruise. One morning he detected a heavy smoke smudge on the horizon; he notified his superiors, who pointed the sub in that direction, to find a big troop transport heavily loaded with men and supplies and escorted by a destroyer. Deep in enemy waters, the sub launched its torpedoes at the target. They were seen to strike home with shattering effect.
Pleatman was commissioned an ensign in June 1940. Volunteering for submarine duty, he was sent to the New London base and was graduated at the head of his class. He has been on Pacific patrol duty ever since.
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