The Early Years: Remembering Admiral Rickover

In this audio sample from his oral history, Admiral Loughlin looks back on his service in the 1930s on board the battleship USS New Mexico (BB-40), where he worked for a certain assistant chief engineer named Lieutenant Hyman G. Rickover. The future Admiral Rickover was, says Loughlin, “one of the big influences on my life . . . one of the most loyal naval officers I’ve ever worked for . . . . He made a tremendous difference.”

Loughlin, who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1933, went to submarine school and served in various boats before taking command of the S-14 in the Panama area. He was CO in the USS Queenfish (SS-393) during four war patrols, including wolf pack operations. He was involved in the controversial sinking of the Japanese merchant ship Awa Maru in 1945. Loughlin served on various staffs, was XO of the tender Orion (AS-18), commanded a submarine division and squadron, was plans officer on SACLant staff, Commander Submarine Flotilla Six during the buildup of the Polaris force, and Commandant Naval District Washington.