His signature appears directly above Admiral Halsey's campaign
cap on the signed surrender photograph. The signature was written
by a blue-black fluid ink pen.
Lockwood was born on May 6, 1890 in Midland, Virginia. After graduating
from the Naval Academy in 1912, one of his earliest assignments
was with the submarines in the Asiatic Fleet. When World War I
ended, he continued to receive assignments with submarines, but
by 1933 a tour as an instructor in the Department of Seamanship
and Navigation at the Naval Academy began his career as an educator.
By the time World War II broke out in Europe, he had been assigned
as a Naval Attache at the American embassy London, England. In
April of 1942, he was assigned the Command of Submarines, Southwest
Pacific, serving under Douglas MacArthur. During this early period
of the war his submarines accounted for a significant amount of
the damage inflicted on the Japanese.
Subsequently, he was transferred to duty as Commander Submarines
Pacific Fleet, serving directly under the Command of Fleet Admiral
Nimitz.The following is quoted directly from the Navy Office of
Information concerning Lockwood's Distinguished Service Medal:
"For exceptionally meritorious service as Commander Submarine
Forces, Pacific Fleet, from February 1943 to September 1945. A
forceful leader, professionally skilled in the performance of
a vital assignment, vice Admiral Lockwood was responsible for
the strategic planning and tactical execution of submarine operations
which culminated in the sinking by the forces under his command
of over one thousand hostile ships, including one battleship,
seven aircraft carriers and five cruisers, and in the damaging
of more than five hundred additional ships. Rendering distinguished
service in support of vital amphibious operations in the forward
areas of the Pacific, Vice Admiral Lockwood also contributed to
the development and effective employment of new weapons of extreme
advantage to the Allied cause."
Gold Star in lieu of Second Distinguished Service Medal: "...as
Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, from January to September
1945...(He) readily foresaw the possibilities and advantages of
invading and ravaging the Sea of Japan during the closing months
of the war and, through his sound judgment and professional skill
in laying the groundwork and developing the plans for this extensive
operation, was in large measure responsible for the successful
penetration of his submarines through the minefields of Tsushima
Straits and into Japanese home waters where over 50 ships and
many smaller vessels were sunk along the last lifeline to the
Asiatic Mainland....he brought his gallant command to the peak
of combat efficiency in support of the Allied offensives against
Iwo Jima and Okinawa...(and) contributed materially to the success
of our sustained drive to force the capitulation of the Japanese
Empire....."
On September 1, 1945 (EST), Vice Admiral Lockwood was present
with Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, on board the USS MISSOURI
in Tokyo Bay for the formal signing of the Japanese surrender.
On December 18, 1945, he was relieved and ordered to duty as Naval
Inspector General, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy
Department, Washington, D. C., assuring that assignment in April
1946. On June 30, 1947, he was relieved of all active duty pending
retirement, and was transferred to the Retired List, effective
September 1, 1947."
Inscribed on a bronze plaque in front of the historic Battleship
USS TEXAS in Houston, Texas, Vice Admiral Lockwood wrote about
the fifty-two submarines that are still on patrol:
"I can assure you that they went down fighting and that their
brothers who survived them took a Grim Toll of our savage enemy."
As for the men who served under his command Lockwood wrote in
his book, SINK 'EM ALL:
"They were no supermen, nor were they endowed with any supernatural
qualities of heroism. They were merely top-notch American lads,
well trained, well treated, well armed and provided with superb
ships. May God grant there will be no World War III; but, if there
is, whether it be fought with the weapons we know or with weapons
at whose type we can only guess, submarines and submariners will
be in the thick of the combat, fighting with skill, determination
and matchless daring for all of us and for our United States of
America."