Howard Grant Corey
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy

Howard Grant Corey was born on 22 May 1907 in Chattanooga, TN.

Corey graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1930. In World War II, he was Commanding Officer of the Destroyer USS Mugford (DD-389) and the USS Killen (DD-593). He participated in the Battle of Surigao Strait aboard the Killen on 24-25 October 1944. During the battle, Corey maneuvered his ship through the congested waters and scored numerous hits on the enemy ships while directing the fire of our battleships and cruisers, resulting in the enemy's defeat and destruction. He was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet.

A week later Corey and his crew again faced the Japanese forces in Leyte Gulf, Philippines Island. Killen delivered deadly blows to the enemy and itself was struck by a bomb. During the battle, Corey's crew damaged five, and downed four, enemy planes. He (along with the crew of Captain Kenmore M. McMane's command) is credited with sinking the Japanese Destroyer Yamagumo by firing multiple torpedoes. Several torpedoes struck the Yamagumo causing an explosion that resulted in the sinking of the ship with all hands lost. For his actions during the Leyte Gulf Battle, Corey was awarded the Silver Star.

Death and Burial

Rear Admiral Howard Grant Corey died on 3 August 1987 in Honolulu, HI. He is buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD.