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Patrol of that
Submarine in action against enemy Japanese forces in the South China Sea Area from 2 December 1944 to 28 January 1945. Skilled and efficient in the performance of his duties, Lieutenant Commander Benitez assisted his Commanding Officer in accomplishing a special mine-laying mission in very shallow waters close to hostile shorelines and in conducting successful attacks which resulted in the sinking of one enemy freighter and the damaging of another. Through his coolness and initiative, he contributed directly to the success of his vessel in evading hostile countermeasures, and his devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Lieutenant Commander Benitez is authorized to wear the Combat "V".)
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attached to the U.S.S. GRENADIER (SS-210), in action against enemy
Japanese forces during the SECOND War Patrol of that Submarine in the Pacific Area from 12 April to 10 June 1942. Precisely controlling depth, Lieutenant Commander Benitez rendered valuable assistance to his Commanding Officer during attacks which resulted in the sinking of two enemy ships totaling 24,400 tons and, in addition, contributed materially to the success of his ship in evading enemy countermeasures. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to the officers and men of his ship and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander Submarines Pacific: Serial 0410 (September 13, 1946)
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War Patrol of that
Submarine in enemy Japanese-controlled waters, from 1 September to 6 November 1944. Expertly utilizing attack data and fire control equipment, Lieutenant Commander Benitez rendered invaluable assistance to his Commanding Officer in delivering attacks to destroy one major enemy warship and two large merchantmen. His skill and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 01136 (April 3, 1945)
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The
President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" to Lieutenant Commander Rafael Celestino Benitez (NSN: 0-82557/1100), United States Navy, for heroic service as Assistant Approach Officer of the U.S.S. DACE (SS-247), during the SIXTH War
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to surface and had dozens of crew members lash themselves to the deck rails with ropes while others fought the blaze. Benítez tried to save his ship and at the same time save his men from the toxic gases. He realized that the winds were about to tear the ropes and ordered his men to form a pyramid on
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The
President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Rafael Celestino Benitez (NSN: 0-82557/1100), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Assistant Approach Officer of the U.S.S. DACE (SS-247), during the FIFTH
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The
President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Rafael Celestino Benitez (NSN: 0-82557/1100), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Engineer and Diving Officer,
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and dean of the university's graduate school of international studies. During his years at
University of Miami Law School, Benítez founded the Graduate Program for Foreign Lawyers, now known as the LL.M. Program in Comparative Law. He also inaugurated the
629:), a compilation of ethical and practical maxims, published in August 1996. On March 15, 2000, the University of Miami School of Law launched a Rafael C. Benítez Scholarship Fund to support the studies of foreign graduate students.
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had an impressive war record, which included sinking 12 Japanese ships, but was damaged beyond reasonable repair on her tenth and final war patrol, which ended on
December 1, 1944. Benítez's only mission as commander of the
636:, with his wife and three children, a son and two daughters. On March 6, 1999, he died at the Memorial Hospital located in Easton. He was buried with full military honors at Oxford Cemetery in Talbot County, Maryland.
243:, and served as associate dean, interim dean and director and founder of the foreign graduate law program. While there, he founded the comparative law LL.M. program, the inter-American law LL.M. program, and the
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that allowed them to spend long periods underwater, largely invisible to an enemy, and with electronic gear designed to detect far-off radio signals – were part of an
American
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247:. After his death, the university established a scholarship in his memory to benefit a foreign attorney who is enrolled in one of the Law School's LL.M. programs.
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resumed normal operations along the East Coast and in the West Indies under his command after having completed a circumnavigation of the globe.
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suffered two casualties, Lt. Cmdr. Richard M. Wright, who survived despite the fact that he was severely burned, and Robert Philo, a civilian
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563:, confirming fears that had led to Commander Benitez's mission, announced that the Soviet Union had detonated its first nuclear device".
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Benítez retired from the Navy in 1959 and was promoted to the rank of rear admiral as he had been decorated for heroism in combat.
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610:(the predecessor of the Inter-American Law Review) and started the Masters Program in Inter-American Law for U.S. Lawyers.
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In 1978, he served as a board member of the US Foundation of the
University of the Valley of Guatemala, located in
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was to bring her from San Francisco to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she was decommissioned on July 18, 1945.
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Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own
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s 4,000-pound batteries caught fire, emitting hydrogen gas and smoke. Unable to receive any help from the
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In 2020 Rafael Celestino Benítez was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.
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601:' vice president for Latin America. He taught international law and was associate dean at the
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He served as commanding officer (with the rank of lieutenant commander) of the submarine
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from February 15, 1945, to May 19, 1945. The Halibut was the first ship of the
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On January 29, 1946, Lieutenant Commander Benítez was given command of the
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The Last Cruise: The Story of the Sinking of the Submarine, U.S.S. Cochino
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Sontag, Sherry; and Christopher Drew; with Annette Lawrence Drew (1998).
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Among Rear Admiral Benítez's decorations and medals were the following:
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In 1952, Benítez was named chief of the United States naval mission to
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441:. This was the first American undersea spy mission of the cold war.
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Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage
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Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage
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of April 5, 1997, "On September 20, 1949, the Soviet publication
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on communications that revealed the testing of submarine-launched
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216:(March 9, 1917 – March 6, 1999) was a highly decorated American
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commander who led the rescue effort of the crew members of the
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the ship's open bridge, which was designed to hold seven men.
452:, Commander Benítez directed the firefighting. He ordered the
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366:. Benítez, inspired by his father who was a judge, attended
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1340:"Rear Admiral R.C. Benitez, 81, Dies; Led Cold War Rescue"
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Warship Commands listed for Rafael Celestino Benitez, USN
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The ocean waters became calmer during the night and the
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Era, Benítez was given the command of the submarine USS
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239:. He taught international law for 16 years at the
491:s crew members. As a result, Philo and six of the
1368:. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy
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487:, but was knocked overboard along with 11 of the
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1481:United States Navy rear admirals (upper half)
483:on a raft to report on the conditions of the
381:During the latter part of 1949, early in the
307:attacks. For his actions, he was awarded the
1441:United States Navy personnel of World War II
1298:"R.C. Benitez Dies; UM Law Dean, Naval Hero"
1039:Hispanics in the United States Naval Academy
1366:Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
1014:Hispanic Admirals in the United States Navy
287:, Benítez saw action aboard the submarines
1184:"University of Miami | School of Law"
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1461:Puerto Rican United States Navy personnel
1300:. University of Miami School of Law. 199
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370:and earned his law degree in June 1949.
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231:. After retiring from the navy, he was
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1059:"University of Miami | School of Law"
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36:Rear Admiral Rafael Celestino Benítez
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697:Division: U.S.S. Grenadier (SS-210)
695:Company: Engineer and Diving Officer
513:. Finally, the crew members of the
1338:Richard Goldstein (April 5, 1999).
1125:Rafael Celestino Benítez: Navy Hero
1034:Hispanics in the United States Navy
907:Submarine Officers Warfare insignia
725:Company: Assistant Approach Officer
665:Company: Assistant Approach Officer
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479:expert, who attempted to reach the
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303:and on various occasions weathered
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1486:United States submarine commanders
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617:. Benítez was also the author of
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241:University of Miami School of Law
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984:Submarine Combat Patrol insignia
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271:by appointment of the Honorable
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727:Division: U.S.S. Dace (SS-247)
667:Division: U.S.S. Dace (SS-247)
517:convinced Benítez to board the
437:missiles that might soon carry
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972:National Defense Service Medal
950:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
938:American Defense Service Medal
603:University of Miami Law School
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400:, departed from the harbor of
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1:
1466:Recipients of the Silver Star
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1024:Puerto Ricans in World War II
967:Navy Occupation Service Medal
1245:"; by : Greg Boudonck;
7:
1471:University of Miami faculty
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977:Philippine Liberation Medal
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269:United States Naval Academy
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1271:. Sloane. ASIN B0007E631Y.
960:World War II Victory Medal
723:Rank: Lieutenant Commander
693:Rank: Lieutenant Commander
663:Rank: Lieutenant Commander
599:Pan American World Airways
389:. On August 12, 1949, the
342:on April 10, 1942. The
233:Pan American World Airways
16:United States Navy admiral
1387:. NavSource Naval History
1322:. Wikinfo. Archived from
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338:on December 3, 1941, and
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718:Rafael Celestino Benitez
688:Rafael Celestino Benitez
658:Rafael Celestino Benitez
608:"Lawyer of the Americas"
214:Rafael Celestino Benítez
104:United States of America
23:Rafael Celestino Benítez
945:American Campaign Medal
738:Awards and recognitions
555:had been "not far from
1451:Puerto Rican academics
933:Navy Unit Commendation
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525:sank off the coast of
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1326:on September 30, 2007
1150:(Pocket Books, 1987)
1019:List of Puerto Ricans
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368:Georgetown Law School
330:, a large species of
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235:' vice president for
127:Years of service
326:to be named for the
320:USS Halibut (SS-232)
263:Benítez was born in
259:USS Halibut (SS-232)
204:Pan American Airways
1320:"Rafael C. Benítez"
632:Benítez resided in
421:The mission of the
402:Portsmouth, England
265:Juncos, Puerto Rico
83:Oxford Cemetery in
56:Juncos, Puerto Rico
1344:The New York Times
1282:. Public Affairs.
1209:"Salón de la Fama"
1006:Puerto Rico portal
721:UNITED STATES NAVY
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691:UNITED STATES NAVY
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661:UNITED STATES NAVY
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324:United States Navy
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121:United States Navy
1408:On Eternal Patrol
1171:Blind Man's Bluff
1063:www.law.miami.edu
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541:According to the
533:Aftermath of the
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313:Bronze Star Medal
273:Santiago Iglesias
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67:(1999-03-06)
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1431:1917 births
923:Bronze Star
914:Silver Star
567:Late career
418:operation.
363:Trumpetfish
309:Silver Star
251:Early years
227:during the
194:Bronze Star
184:Silver Star
1425:Categories
1413:2006-10-10
1391:2006-10-10
1372:2006-10-10
1349:2006-10-21
1330:2006-10-10
1304:2006-10-21
1251:1497421837
1194:2013-01-09
1045:References
953:with four
928:"V" device
597:He became
334:. She was
93:Allegiance
49:1917-03-09
577:USS
551:said the
549:Red Fleet
431:eavesdrop
361:USS
299:Grenadier
222:USS
218:submarine
155:USS
130:1939–1959
1267:(1950).
1169:Sontag,
992:See also
615:Delaware
557:Murmansk
537:incident
446:Cochino'
412:snorkels
383:Cold War
377:incident
355:Post war
336:launched
332:flatfish
301:(SS-210)
293:(SS-247)
229:Cold War
151:Commands
110:Service/
1402:Cochino
1383:Cochino
1360:Cochino
619:Anchors
584:Waldron
579:Waldron
553:Cochino
535:Cochino
523:Cochino
507:Cochino
485:Cochino
473:Cochino
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429:was to
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527:Norway
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175:Awards
112:branch
79:Buried
74:, U.S.
1400:"USS
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926:with
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489:Tusk'
477:sonar
1284:ISBN
1255:ISBN
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1152:ISBN
623:ISBN
573:Cuba
519:Tusk
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43:Born
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