Morton C. Mumma

Morton C. Mumma, Jr., was born on 24 August 1904 in Manila, Philippines. He was the eldest son of Colonel Morton C. Mumma, United States Army. He attended schools in Iowa City, Iowa.LIFE (1942), p. 46 Appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1921, he graduated in the class of 1925.List of Graduates Colonel Mumma was noted as "expert rifle shot,"Iowa Alumnus (1916), p. 263 and he passed his skills to his son. Mumma, Jr., was captain of the academy rifle team, and coach of the academy rifle team twice, from 1928 to 1929, and from 1938 to 1940.{{sfnp|Obituary|1968|p=B6}} Upon graduation, he joined the Navy service-wide rifle team.

Prior to attending submarine school at Groton, Connecticut in 1928, Mumma served in destroyers. One of his first commands was the submarine {{USS|S-43|SS-154}} from 1935 until 1938. Originally based at Pearl Harbor, the submarine relocated to Coco Solo, in the Panama Canal Zone, in 1936.Fleet Submarine, [http://www.fleetsubmarine.com/ss-154.html SS-154]

He was awarded the Navy Cross for actions on 13 December 1941 during World War II, while serving aboard {{USS|Sailfish|SS-192}}, after making contact with two Japanese destroyers, and bravely began a submerged attack; the destroyers detected her, dropping a couple of depth charges, while Sailfish fired two torpedoes. Despite a large explosion nearby, no damage was done, and the destroyers counterattacked with 18–20 depth charges.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=143}} The depth charging led Mumma to suffer a breakdown and he was relieved.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Morton Claire Mumma, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. SAILFISH (SS-192), on the FIRST War Patrol of that submarine in enemy controlled waters of off Luzon, Philippine Islands. On the night of 13 December 1941, the ship made contact with a convoy escorted by three Japanese destroyers. Lieutenant Commander Mumma boldly maneuvered his submarine into striking position despite enemy depth charge counter measures and directed operations and fire to score a torpedo hit on an enemy destroyer. Through his experience and sound judgment Lieutenant Commander Mumma brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.{{sfnp|Military Times Hall of Valor|2012|p=20716}}

File:PT-boat jetty at Tufi Papua New Guinea.jpg.]]

Following duty with the Southwest Pacific submarine staff, and then as naval liaison to Fifth Air Force, on 5 February 1943 Mumma became Commander, Task Group 50.1, the PT boats in the Southwest Pacific. On 15 March, with the creation the US Seventh Fleet, Task Group 50.1 became Task Group 70.1, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Seventh Fleet. Mumma "was responsible directly to, and only to, the Commander Seventh Fleet. Furthermore, from the start he had full operational control of his boats, and specific areas were assigned for PT operations. As a task group commander he received complete information as to the movements of other naval vessels."Bulkley (1962), [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/PT-4.html pp. 174–175] Mumma's headquarters were at Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.Bulkley (1962), [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/PT-4.html pp. 173]

In early March 1943, Mumma's PT boats, leaving from Tufi, Papua New Guinea, took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Late 3 March, Mumma's boats sank the Oigawa Maru (6,493 tons).Bulkley (1962), [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/PT-4.html pp. 180] In April, Mumma moved his advance base from Tufi to Morobe, Papua New Guinea.Bulkley (1962), [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/PT-4.html pp. 184–185]

Nassau Bay, southeast of Salamaua, was captured at Mumma's suggestion that a supply base there would shorten the supply line to the 3rd Australian Division. Mumma's PT boats were used for the first time as troop carriers, carrying 70 soldiers in addition to the crew.Bulkley (1962), [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/PT-4.html pp. 188–189]

Mumma's PT boats continued their raiding actions in support of the New Guinea campaign. In December 1943, Mumma received this letter from Australian General Frank H. Berryman:

{{clear}}

On 8 February 1944, Mumma was relieved as Commander Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Seventh Fleet and Commander Task Group 70.1Bulkley (1962), [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/PT-4.html pp. 215] For his service, Commander Mumma was awarded a

Legion of Merit with a gold star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit.Bulkley (1962), [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/PT-4.html pp. 502]

During 1944 and 1945, Mumma was the naval aide to the US Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal.{{sfnp|Obituary|1968|p=B6}} Mumma's picture (top) shows him wearing the 4-loop blue and gold aiguillette as the aide to the last cabinet-level Secretary of the Navy. Mumma's time as aide was the last year of World War II; Forrestal was concerned with war termination and Navy demobilization.SecDef Histories, [https://web.archive.org/web/20060926222430/http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/bios/forrestal.htm 3rd para]

Leaving duty as Forrestal's aide, Mumma assumed responsibilities as the Planning Control Director of the Bureau of Naval Personnel. He retired from active duty in 1946, only to be recalled for the Korean War. His last military assignment was as the Chief Planning Officer for the Selective Service System from 1951 to 1953.{{sfnp|Obituary|1968|p=B6}}

From 1955 to 1957, Admiral Mumma was president of the National Rifle Association, and until his death was a member of the association's executive council. Continuing his interest in rifle marksmanship, Mumma was a long-time member of the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice.{{sfnp|Obituary|1968|p=B6}} Like his father had (in 1904), Mumma earned NBPRP Distinguished Marksman in 1927.{{sfnp|Rocketto|2010|p=8}}

Rear Admiral Mumma died of cancer in 1968 at his home (3667 East Baker Street) in Tucson, Arizona.{{sfnp|Obituary|1968|p=B6}}

Mort Bay, 15 miles north of Morobe, Papua New Guinea,Bulkley (1962), [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/PT-4.html p. 188] was named by Australian hydrographers in Commander Mumma's honor.Bulkley (1962), [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/fn.html Footnote 13] Mort Bay was the point of departure for the landing at Nassau Bay, 29 June 1943.

The Mumma Trophy is presented to the national champion rifle marksman by the National Rifle Association. The trophy, a large silver urn on a wooden pedestal, is inscribed:

{{blockquote|The Mumma Trophy. Presented to the National Rifle Association of America in Memory of Colonel Morton C. Mumma, United States Army. Distinguished Rifleman and NRA Honorary Director for Life 1878–1945, and Rear Admiral Morton C. Mumma, Jr., United States Navy. Distinguished Rifleman and NRA Honorary Life Member 1904–1968.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nrablog.com/post/2009/08/15/Kyles-Saturday-Entry.aspx |title=NRAblog 15 August 2009 |access-date=1 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323075056/http://www.nrablog.com/post/2009/08/15/Kyles-Saturday-Entry.aspx |archive-date=23 March 2014 }}}}

• Submarine Combat Patrol insignia
• Submarine Qualification Insignia
• Navy Cross
• Legion of Merit with gold star
• World War I Victory Medal
• American Defense Service Medal with "FLEET" clasp
• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
• Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

{{Reflist}}

15px{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s3/sailfish-i.htm}}

• {{Cite book

|title=Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan

|first=Clay Jr.

|last=Blair

|author-link=Clay Blair

|publisher=J. B. Lippincott Company

|location=Philadelphia and New York

|year=1975

|isbn=0-397-00753-1

|url-access=registration

|url=https://archive.org/details/silentvictoryus00blai

}}

• {{cite book

|last=Bulkley

|first=Robert J.

|title=At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy

|year=1962

|publisher=Department of the Navy

|location=Washington, DC

|oclc=789473405

|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/

}}

• {{cite web

|last=Military Times Hall of Valor

|year=2012

|title=Valor awards for Morton Claire Mumma, Jr.

|url = http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=20716

|publisher=Gannett Government Media Corporation

|access-date=28 December 2012

}}

• {{cite news

| last =Obituary

| title = Sub Skipper, Former Aide To Forrestal

| newspaper = The Washington Post

| location = Washington, D.C.

| pages = B6

| date = 17 August 1968

}}

• {{cite book

| last = The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association, Inc.

| author-link = United States Naval Academy#Alumni

| title = Register of Alumni: Classes of 1846–2012

| publisher = Harris Connect

| series = Graduates and Former Midshipmen and Naval Cadets

| edition = 2013

| location = Annapolis, MD

}}

• {{cite book|title=The Iowa Alumnus: State University of Iowa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VIUmAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA263|access-date=1 January 2013|volume=14|date=October 1916|publisher=University of Iowa Association|location=Iowa City, Iowa|page=263}}
• {{cite book|author=Time Inc|editor=Henry R. Luce|editor-link=Henry Luce|title=LIFE|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gE4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46|access-date=1 January 2013|date=16 March 1942|publisher=Time Inc|location=New York City|page=46|issn=0024-3019|author-link=Life (magazine)}}
• {{cite web|last=Jillson|first=Kyle|title=The Mumma Trophy|url=http://www.nrablog.com/post/2009/08/15/Kyles-Saturday-Entry.aspx|publisher=The National Rifle Association of America|access-date=1 January 2013|date=15 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323075056/http://www.nrablog.com/post/2009/08/15/Kyles-Saturday-Entry.aspx|archive-date=23 March 2014}}
• {{cite book|last=Rocketto|first=Hap|title=A Short History of the Distinguished Shooter Program|year=2010|publisher=Civilian Marksmanship Program|page=41|url=http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Distinguished_History.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714222546/http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Distinguished_History.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2014}}
• {{cite web|title=SecDef Histories – James Forrestal|url=http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/bios/forrestal.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926222430/http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/bios/forrestal.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 September 2006|publisher=US Department of Defense|access-date=2 January 2013|author=Department of Defense|author-link=United States Department of Defense}}
• {{cite web|last=FleetSubmarine.com|title=SS-154, U.S.S. S-43|url=http://www.fleetsubmarine.com/ss-154.html|publisher=FleetSubmarine.com|access-date=3 January 2013|year=2004}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-npo|nra}}

{{s-bef|before=J. Alvin Badeaux}}

{{s-ttl|title=President of the NRA|years=1955}}

{{s-aft|after=George R. Whittington}}

{{s-end}}

{{National Rifle Association}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mumma, Morton C.}}

Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)

Category:1904 births

Category:1968 deaths

Category:United States Naval Academy alumni

Category:United States Navy admirals

Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II

Category:Honorary officers of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Presidents of the National Rifle Association

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit