GLENN K. HICKMAN
Machinist’s Mate First Class · Plankowner, USS Silversides (SS-236) · Retired Chief Engineman
| Born / Died | 22 Aug 1916 / 29 Jul 1962 |
| Service no. | 355-91-82 |
| Commissioning rate | MM1c (15 Dec 1941) |
| Silversides tenure | 15 Dec 1941 – 10 Jul 1942 |
| Patrols aboard | 1 (5 ships credited, 25,627 t) |
| Final rate | ENC(SS) |
| Other vessels | Seawolf, R-14, Tinosa (SS-283, plankowner) |
| Service | 15 May 1935 – 17 Jan 1955 (BIRLS, from headstone application) |
Prewar (1916–1941)
Glenn Hickman was born on 22 August 1916. In 1930 the family owned a $500 home in Drumright, Oklahoma, where his father John (49) was a tool pusher in the oil fields. Glenn (13) had a brother John (16). He enlisted in the Navy on 15 May 1935, at eighteen. Seawolf and the old boat R-14 appear among his boats, the dates unrecorded.
On Silversides (Dec 1941 – Jul 1942)
Hickman commissioned aboard *Silversides* on 15 December 1941 as MM1c and made her first war patrol under C.C. Burlingame. On 10 July 1942, five days before the second patrol sailed, he was transferred to CSD 101 “for duty,” the same day Elmer G. Huter and Richard C. Richardson Jr. left.
| Patrol | Dates | CO | Credited sunk | Credited damaged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 Apr – 21 Jun 1942 | Burlingame | 5 (25,627 t)¹ | 1 (10,100 t) |
| Total | 5 (25,627 t) | 1 (10,100 t) |
¹ Tonnage as credited in endorsements. Patrol 1 includes a submarine credit that was likely a log or other debris.
Later War (1943–1945)
He was a plankowner of USS Tinosa (SS-283) when she commissioned on 15 January 1943, and he was advanced to CMoMM(AA) on 1 June 1943 under BuPers circular letter 38-43. On her third war patrol, on 3 October 1943, a test dive found a leak in the outboard ventilation supply system. After the boat fired four torpedoes on 4 October and lost depth control, Hickman volunteered at 0200 on 5 October to go into the superstructure in enemy waters to search for it. He found the loose hand-hole plate on the outboard supply valve and tightened it, which made the repair. The commanding officer commended him in the patrol report. The next day, 6 October, a target charged the boat, which went deep, and four close depth charges burst, breaking bridge speaker diaphragms, throwing men off their feet and starting a fire in the motor room. He left Tinosa on 1 January 1944 for the Bluefish flag allowance, in the same month Elroy F. Wilke went to Puffer.
Postwar (1945–1962)
BIRLS, from his headstone application, gives his discharge as 17 January 1955, after nearly twenty years. A 1958 Fort Lauderdale city directory lists Glenn K. Hickman, engineer at the U.S. Ordnance Laboratory test facilities. He died on 29 July 1962.
Research Notes
-
Service number: the plankowner index transcribes 355-91-92 while the cohort data and this file have 355-91-82.
verify -
Patrol report citation: the commendation is in the Tinosa patrol 3 report, page 35, paragraph 8. The note quotes Daspit’s narrative of the depth-charge attack.
-
Chief: “CMoMM(AA) on 1 Jun 43 — BuPers C/L 38-43. Chief Machinist from the boat Howard, George Dewey USFR, transferred to SubDiv 101 Flag on 30 Jun 43.”
-
Open: OMPF, Seawolf and R-14 dates, retirement postings.
-
Source notes (carried over, verbatim):
Tinosa 3rd War Patrol in the remarks section the “Commanding Officer commends Glenn K. Hickman, CMoMM(AA), USN, who volunteered to enter the superstructure to locate and repair the leak in the ventilation supply system while this ship was in enemy controlled waters.” Page 35 Paragraph 8.
3 OCT 1943: On test dive discovered leak in supply ventilation system outside hull. System had been tight on previous dives. Unable to locate leak without undue risk at this time.
4 OCT 1943: 0455K Fired four torpedoes from bow tubes. Submerged to periscope depth. 0456K Lost depth control. Poppet of first tube fired stuck in open position. It was secured immediately after firing all tubes. This water, plus the flooding of the ventilation supply piping, made ship to heavy to control.
5 OCT 1943: 0200K Battery charge completed. Moon had set. Lay to and put air test on ventilation outboard piping. Glenn K. Hickman, CMoMM(AA) volunteered to enter superstructure and search for leak; finally located in hand hole plate of outboard ventilation supply valve, which was loose. Trouble appeared caused by poor rubber gasket material which had compressed under load and had lost its resilience. Tightening plate made satisfactory repair.
1930 Census Drumright, OK. John M Hickman (49) and Maude M (49). John M (16) and Glen K (13). $500 owned home. John Sr was a tool pusher in the oil fields.
1958 Fort Lauderdale City Directory Glen K Hickman (Helen R) eng US Ordnance Laby Test facilities h1485 SW 47th ter (BPk).
To CSD 101 for duty on 10JUL42.
To USS BLUEFISH (FLAG ALLOWANCE) on 1JAN44.
CMoMM(AA) on 1JUN43 — BuPers C/L 38-43. Chief Machinist from the boat HOWARD, George Dewey USFR transferred to SUBDIV 101 FLAG on 30JUN43.
On the Third War Patrol of the Tinosa the targets they attacked on the 6th of October charged the ship and closed with the periscope. Target too close to shoot down the throat so Daspit had to submerge, set to 150 feet and rigged for depth charge. Turned 90° port, full speed. 1209(K) Four depth charges, all close. Bridge speaker diaphragms broken, various lockers opened, men knocked off feet in after torpedo room. 1210(K) Fire in motor room. 1212(K) Fire in port revolution counter under control. — All while hunting the target that depth charged her.
Sources: 1930 census; 1958 Fort Lauderdale city directory; BIRLS (headstone application); Tinosa patrol 3 report; Silversides and Tinosa musters and ROCs; Silversides patrol index 1.