Arthur H. Graubart

Arthur Harrison "Speedy" Graubart (December 8, 1901 in Albany, New York – August 12, 2003 in Palm Beach, Florida) was a United States Navy Captain, and the last commander of the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen after the ship's transfer as a war prize from Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine to the US Navy.

Graubart was born in Albany, New York as the youngest of three children to Hungarian and Austrian immigrants. His father was a salesman who came to America when he was 15 to avoid the draft. At an early age, Arthur Graubart showed an aptitude for mathematics and science, while his sister Ella Graubart went on to become the first female lawyer in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Charleston Harris High School in New York City in 1918. After the US declared war on Germany in 1917, Graubart, age 16, tried to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, but was recognized by an acquaintance of his father and sent home after two days. One day after his graduation from high school, he volunteered for service in the navy.

Graubart entered the United States Naval Academy in 1921, ser. number 59309. As a Midshipman, he earned the nickname “Speed” or "Speedy" , when one of the members of the track team was injured and Graubart was asked to run in his place. Even though he crossed the finish line almost a half lap behind everyone else, he still earned a critical point for his team, so they nicknamed him “Speed” and it stuck with him. After graduation in 1925, his first assignment was on board the light cruiser USS Cincinnati, which in 1927 was involved in the Nicaragua "Banana Fleet" operations to protect American refugees during the country's civil war. In 1927 Graubart reported to the Officers Submarine School at Naval Submarine Base New London. Upon completion, he was transferred to the submarine USS R-2 where he served until 1931. In 1932 Graubart was assigned to the submarine USS Barracuda for a three-year tour of duty. On November 24, 1938, he was transferred from Submarine Division 12 to Submarine Squadron 4, serving on the submarine USS Porpoise where he served until 1939.

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