Leroy Ingles TMCM(SS) COB 1957 - 1959

As the commissioning COB for USS SARGO (SSN 583) Leroy Ingles' career was as illustrious as that of the SARGO. He started his naval career in 1939 aboard USS SARATOGA (CV 3). In June 1941 he transferred to USS STURGEON (SS 187) and made six war patrols on her before transferring to USS PADDLE (SS 263) as a First Class Torpedoman in 1943. Ingles made Chief in November 1943 and was PADDLE's COB for seven war patrols before transferring to the submarine tender USS ORION (AS 18) in April 1945 as a Warrant Officer. In October of 1947 he reverted back to CPO and COB of USS TORSK (SS 423). In August of 1950 Ingles went to New London as the senior instructor at Submarine School. He returned to the fleet in June 1953 as COB of the USS FLYING FISH (SS 229) before transferring to USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571) as her first COB. When the NAUTILUS, the nation's first nuclear powered submarine, was being built, he applied to be the Chief of the Boat. He was interviewed for the job by ADM Hyman G. Rickover, who reportedly told Ingles to "get the hell out" of his office after the interview. A few days later; a Navy Captain called Ingles and told him ADM Rickover had picked him for the job.

Shown with a plaque made up by Jessie Owens

He stayed on NAUTILUS until July 1955 when he retired from the Navy. As a civilian he was hired as an inspector by Mare Island Naval Shipyard and worked with the layout detail for SARGO. The lure of the sea brought him back into the Navy in June 1956 and he came to Pearl Harbor, again as COB of USS WAHOO (SS 565). He stayed on WAHOO until October 1957 when he returned to Mare Island to commission SARGO. While on SARGO he was the first Torpedoman to make Master Chief in the Navy. In September 1959 he transferred to USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (SSBN 600) as her first COB. In June 1965 he transferred to Bangor and was the senior enlisted advisor until his retirement in July 1965. Master Chief Ingles remained in the Port Orchard, Washington area up until his death, on April 12, 2001.

USS SARGO (SSN 583)	USS SARATOGA (CV 3)	USS STURGEON (SS 187)	USS PADDLE (SS 263)	USS ORION (AS 18)	USS TORSK (SS 423)

USS FLYING FISH (SS 229)	USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571)	USS WAHOO (SS 565)	USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (SSBN 600)