MICHAEL L. ESPOSITO
Machinist’s Mate First Class · Plankowner, USS Silversides (SS-236) · Lieutenant Commander
| Born / Died | 26 Apr 1912 / 2 Jun 1993 |
| Service no. | 223-09-75 |
| Commissioning rate | MM1c (15 Dec 1941) |
| Silversides tenure | 15 Dec 1941 – 25 Sep 1942 |
| Patrols aboard | 2 (9 ships credited, 40,877 t) |
| Other vessels | Sculpin (plankowner), Sperry |
| Service | BIRLS: 3 Sep 1943 (first commission) – 31 Mar 1958; omits his enlisted service |
Prewar (1912–1941)
Michael Esposito was born on 26 April 1912. In 1930 the family rented a home in Newark, New Jersey, for $35 a month. His parents Antonio (45) and Michaelina (41) were born in Italy and arrived in 1904, and both were still aliens. Antonio was a baker who owned his own shop, and Michael (18) worked there as a baker, with his sisters Eva (20), Ida (16) and Emalia (11) at home. He was later a plankowner of the submarine Sculpin.
On Silversides (Dec 1941 – Sep 1942)
Esposito commissioned aboard *Silversides* on 15 December 1941 as MM1c. On his dates he made her first two war patrols under C.C. Burlingame. On 25 September 1942 he was transferred to the Silversides flag allowance.
| Patrol | Dates | CO | Credited sunk | Credited damaged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 Apr – 21 Jun 1942 | Burlingame | 5 (25,627 t)¹ | 1 (10,100 t) |
| 2 | 15 Jul – 8 Sep 1942 | Burlingame | 4 (15,250 t) | 2 (5,750 t) |
| Total | 9 (40,877 t) | 3 (15,850 t) |
¹ Tonnage as credited in endorsements. Patrol 1 includes a submarine credit that was likely a log or other debris.
Later War (1942–1945)
He stayed on the flag allowance aboard USS Sperry until 10 February 1943, when he was routed through the Receiving Station, Pearl Harbor, and the West Coast to the Submarine Base, New London, for assignment to new construction by ComSubLant. He accepted an appointment as Ensign at the Philadelphia Receiving Station in September 1943, and his enlisted trail ends there. His later wartime postings have not been traced.
Postwar (1945–1993)
BIRLS gives his discharge as 31 March 1958. The 1950 census finds him in Newark, listing his occupation as “NAVY,” with his wife Carolina (35) and children Michael Jr. (6) and Margaret (4). His Find a Grave memorial lists him as a Lieutenant Commander, with the submarine dolphins on his headstone. He died on 2 June 1993.
Research Notes
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Departure: 25 Sep 1942 is the flag-allowance transfer; the later Sperry months were a paper attachment.
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Flier: he was in the pipeline for USS Flier but survived the war, so he either was not assigned to her or was transferred off before her loss.
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“NC” in the 10 Feb 1943 transfer is read as new construction.
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Sculpin: one of four Silversides plankowners who came from her: Arthur W. Clark Jr., Elmer G. Huter and Peter J. Lewis.
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Open: OMPF, his boat after September 1943.
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Source notes (carried over, verbatim):
1930 Census Antonio Esposito (45) Michaelina (41). Eva (20), Michael (18), Ida (16) and Emalia (11). Living in a $35 rental in Newark, NJ. Antonio and Michaelina were both born in Italy. Immigrated in 1904, alien. Antonio was a baker and owned his own shop. Michael was a baker in that shop.
1950 Census Michael Esposito (38) and Carolina (35). Michael Jr (6) and Margaret D. (4). Michael lists his occupation as “NAVY.” Living in Newark.
Transferred to Silversides (FLAG) on 25 Sep 1942. Stayed on the flag allowance aboard USS Sperry through 10 Feb 1943 when he was transferred “To RS PH TH, FFT RS, WC FFT S/M Base, New London, Conn. for assign. to NC by Comsublant.”
I lose him on the east coast when he accepts an appointment to Ensign in September 1943 at Philadelphia Receiving Station. He was originally in the pipeline for the USS Flier but survived the war, so wherever he went after this it was either not the Flier or he managed to get transferred off before her fate.
SCULPIN plankowner.
Sources: 1930 and 1950 census; BIRLS; Find a Grave; Silversides muster and ROC.