Congratulatory radio dispatch from Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid, Commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, to the Darter and Dace crews aboard the USS Dace (SS-247) on October 25th, 1944, enroute to Fremantle, Australia.
 
The dispatch was typed by a Dace Radioman, then Commander David McClintock of the Darter posted it on the bulletin board in the Crew's Mess of the Dace. On November 5th, the Dace arrived in Freemantle. As he departed the Dace by climbing the ladder in the After Battery Crew's Mess, Frank Ruma reached over, pulled the radio dispatch off of the bulletin board and put it into his dungaree pocket.
 
 
(Image Courtesy of James Ruma, son of Frank Ruma, TM1(SS), Darter, 3/44-10/44; and TMC(SS), Menhaden, 6/45-10/45)
 
 
Framed Letter and Photograph from Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid to Captain David H. McClintock
 
Close-up of Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid's letter to Captain David McClintock
 
CONTENTS OF THE LETTER:
ADMIRAL THOMAS C. KINKAID, U.S.N. (RET)
2134 R STREET, N. W.
WASHINGTON 8, D. C.
 
28 May 1958
 
Dear McClintock:
 
I send you an autographed photograph with great pleasure.
 
You gave us in Leyte Gulf the first positive information of the near approach of Japanese Forces. We had a whole day to make our plans and dispositions.
 
Your attacks, with Darter and Dace, upon Kurita's columns, after pacing them through the night in Palawan Passage, was a magnificent performance. Not only were two cruisers sunk and a third seriously damaged but Admiral Kurita, whose cruiser flagship was sunk, was forced to shift to a strange ship, the Yamato. In so doing, he was separated from most of his highly trained and experienced staff and communications personnel which were not available to him during the naval actions of 24 and 25 October. Any flag officer who has commanded naval forces in action will readily understand what that means.
 
The war-time Seventh Fleet owes you a debt of gratitude which I hereby acknowledge.
 
With all good wishes,
 
Sincerely,
 
Thomas C. Kinkaid
 
Autographed Photo
 
ADMIRAL KINKAID WROTE ON THE PHOTOGRAPH:
To Captain D. H. McClintock --
With admiration and gratitude for your courageous and effective attack upon Kurita's columns in Palawan Passage, 23 October, 1944.
Thomas C. Kinkaid
Admiral, U.S. Navy
 
(Images and Contents Courtesy of David H. McClintock, III, grandson of Captain David H. McClintock, Commanding Officer of the USS Darter (SS-227) from May 30th to October 24th, 1944)