Thomas M. Dykers
{{Short description|American Rear Admiral}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Thomas Michael Dykers
| honorific_suffix =
| image = File:Thomas Michael Dykers.png
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name =
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1905|12|03}}
| birth_place = New Orleans, LA
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1975|06|13|1905|12|03}}
| death_place = New Orleans, LA
| placeofburial = Cypress Grove Cemetery, New Orleans
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates =
| allegiance = {{flag|United States of America}}
| branch = 20px United States Navy
| serviceyears = 1923–1949 {{cite news|title=Service Conducted For Sailor, Writer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/18368065/|access-date=21 September 2016|publisher=Cumberland Evening Times|date=17 June 1975|location=Cumberland, Maryland|page=2}}
| rank = 20px Rear Admiral
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| commands = USS S-35 (SS-140){{cite web | author=Svonavec | title=Submarine Commanders by USNA Class Year 1926 - 1930 | website=Fleet Organization Home Page | date=1936-05-30 | url=http://www.fleetorganization.com/subcommandersclassyear2.html | access-date=2020-01-07}}{{cite web | author=Svonavec | title=Submarine Commanders, S Class Boats | website=Fleet Organization Home Page | date=1940-10-16 | url=http://www.fleetorganization.com/subcommanders.html | access-date=2020-01-07}}
{{USS|Jack|SS-259}} {{cite web | author=Svonavec | title=Submarine Commanders, Wartime Fleet Boats | website=Fleet Organization Home Page | date=1941-12-31 | url=http://www.fleetorganization.com/subcommanders3.html | access-date=2020-01-07}}
Submarine Division 282 {{Cite web|url=http://www.fleetorganization.com/subdivisioncommanders.html|title=Submarine Division Commanders|website=imdb.com}}
| battles = World War II
| battles_label =
| awards = File:Navy_Cross_ribbon.svg Navy Cross (2) {{Cite web|url=http://navsource.org/archives/08/pdf/0825917.pdf|title=Thomas Dykers Obituary, 23 Sep 1975, The Houston Post|website=navsource.org}}
File:Silver Star Medal ribbon.svg Silver Star
File:Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg Bronze Star
| memorials =
| spouse = Margaret Frances Tydings
| relations =
| laterwork = The Silent Service (TV series)
| signature =
| signature_size =
| signature_alt =
| website =
| module =
}}
Thomas Michael Dykers, Sr. (December 3, 1905 – June 13, 1975) was a submarine commander during World War II who reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. He was also a writer and Television producer. He produced and narrated the 1957–58 TV series The Silent Service.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0245837/|title=Thomas M. Dykers|website=imdb.com}}
Early life
Dykers was born in 1905 to Reginald and Phoebe Alberta Dykers (née Hall) in New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his education at Tulane University, where he became a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The following year he transferred to The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and graduated in 1927.
Junior officer
After graduating from Annapolis, Dykers served onboard the USS Memphis. In 1930 Dykers had completed a course in chemical warfare and was assigned to the USS Bulmer.{{cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/registerofcommis1930wash |title=Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps |date=1 July 1930 |publisher=Government Printing Office |location=Washington DC |archive-url= |archive-date=}} In 1931 Dykers completed a submarine course in New London, Connecticut, and was subsequently assigned to the USS S-15 (SS-120).{{cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/registerofcommis1932wash |title=Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps |date=1 July 1932 |publisher=Government Printing Office |location=Washington DC |archive-url= |archive-date=}} In 1934 Dykers completed a submarine commanders course while still assigned to the USS S-15.{{cite book |date=1 July 1934 |title=Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps|url=http://archive.org/details/registerofcommis1934wash|location= Washington DC |publisher=Government Printing Office |archive-url=https://archive.org |archive-date=28 July 2016}} In 1935 and 1936 Dykers was assigned to the Georgia School of Technology (now the Georgia Institute of Technology) R.O.T.C. where he completed the Naval War College Correspondence Course.{{cite book |date=1 July 1936 |title=Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps |url=http://archive.org/details/registerofcommis1936wash |location=Washington DC |publisher=Government Printing Office |archive-url=https://archive.org |archive-date=2 August 2016}} In 1937 Dykers was assigned to the USS S-25 (SS-130).{{cite book|date=1 July 1937|title=Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps |url=http://archive.org/details/registerofcommis1937wash |location=Washington DC |publisher=Government Printing Office |archive-url=https://archive.org |archive-date=28 July 2016}} In 1938 Dykers took command of the USS S-35 (SS-140).{{cite book |date=1 July 1938 |title=Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps |url=http://archive.org/details/registerofcommis1938wash |location=Washington DC |publisher=Government Printing Office |archive-url=https://archive.org |archive-date=29 July 2016}}
World War II
Dykers took command of the USS Jack in 1942, as her first commanding officer. The USS Jack subsequently sank eight Japanese ships, and the Navy highly decorated Dykers for his service.
Later career
In 1949 Rear Admiral Dykers retired from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and moved to California. There he became a technical advisor for the film industry, aiding in films such as The Flying Missile, Submarine Command, and Torpedo Alley. He later produced and narrated the 1957–58 TV series The Silent Service.