Dudley W. Morton
| Dudley Walker Morton | |
|---|---|
Commander Dudley "Mush" Morton
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Mush |
| Born |
July 17, 1907 Owensboro, Kentucky |
| Died | October 11, 1943 (aged 36) Onboard USS Wahoo (SS-238) |
| Died at sea | La Pérouse Strait |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1930 - 1943 |
| Rank |
 Commander
|
| Commands held |
USS R-5 (SS-82) USS Wahoo (SS-238) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Navy Cross (4) Distinguished Service Cross Purple Heart Presidential Unit Citation |
Dudley Walker "Mush" Morton (July 17, 1907 – October 11, 1943) was a submarine commander of the United States Navy during World War II. He was commander of USS Wahoo (SS-238) during its third through seventh patrols. Wahoo was one of the most-celebrated submarines of World War II, sinking at least 19 Japanese ships, more than any other submarine of the time. Morton and Wahoo disappeared in 1943 during a patrol near La Perouse Strait, and he was ultimately declared deceased three years later.
A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Morton graduated from the Naval Academy in 1930. There he received the nickname "Mushmouth", after a character in the cartoon strip Moon Mullins whose large square jaw and prominent mouth resembled Morton's. The nickname was shortened to "Mush", by which he was known for much of his life.
Prior to the beginning of World War II, he served in the USS Saratoga (CV-3), USS Chicago (CA-29), USS Canopus (AS-9), USS Fairfax (DD-93), and the submarines USS R-5 (SS-82) and USS S-37 (SS-142).
Promoted to commander October 15, 1942, he was in nominal command of USS Dolphin (SS-169) while it underwent extended repairs at Pearl Harbor. He was relieved to make a war patrol in USS Wahoo (SS-238) between November 8 and December 26 as prospective commanding officer, a supernumerary position to prepare him for command of a fleet boat. Morton took command of Wahoo on December 31 in Brisbane, Australia. Between January 26, 1943 and October 11, he carried out four offensive patrols, during which Wahoo was responsible for sinking 19 cargo and transport ships for a combined total of 55,000 tons.
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