Creed Burlingame

Creed Cardwell Burlingame
LCDR Burlingame at the Silversides' commissioning ceremony at Mare Island, 15 December 1941.
Nickname(s)	Burly
Born	(1905-02-27)February 27, 1905 Louisville, Kentucky
Died	October 21, 1985(1985-10-21) (aged 80) Perry Point, Maryland
Arlington National Cemetery	Arlington, Virginia
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Rank	Rear Admiral
Unit	Submarine Service
Commands held	USS S-36 (SS-141) USS S-30 (SS-135) USS Silversides USS Roanoke
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Navy Cross (3) Silver Star Medal (2) Legion of Merit

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.

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, 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.