Former U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Henry 'Hank' Kudzik
John Cosgrove
GMC Hank Kudzik, USN
Chief Hank Kudzik was a Gunner's Mate First Class onboard NAUTILUS (SS 168) at the Battle of Midway. At the battle’s outset, NAUTILUS found herself in the middle of the Japanese Kido Butai, being pursued and depth-bombed by two destroyers. Later on during the engagement, she fired three torpedoes which sank the aircraft carrier Sōryū. Kudzik made 8 war patrols in Nautilus, and following Midway, sailed on toward the Japanese homeland. He later made six more war patrols in USS GAR (SS 206).