Rear Admiral Richard Hetherington “Dick” O'Kane (February 2, 1911 – February 16, 1994) was a United States Navy submarine commander in World War II, who received a Medal of Honor for his service on the Tang. He also served on the Wahoo, as executive officer and approach officer. He participated in more successful attacks on Japanese shipping than any other submarine officer during the war.
O'Kane was born in Dover, New Hampshire. He was the youngest of four children of University of New Hampshire entomology professor Walter Collins O'Kane, of Irish ancestry, and his wife, Clifford Hetherington. He graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover in 1930, and the U.S. Naval Academy in May 1934. He spent his first years of active duty on the heavy cruiser Chester and destroyer Pruitt. He received submarine instruction in 1938 and was then assigned to the USS Argonaut. O'Kane qualified for submarines aboard Argonaut in 1938 and remained aboard until her overhaul at Mare Island in 1942.
O'Kane is an Irish surname, anglicised from the Irish Ó Catháin, and was the name of a significant clann in Ulster, a province of Ireland. The surname has also been anglicised as O'Cahan, Kane, O'Keane, O'Kean, O'Keen, O'Keene, Keen, Keene, Kain, O'Kaine, and similar variations thereof. They are descended from Eógan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. In the late Middle Ages, they were the primary sept under the Ó Néill clann of Ulster, holding the privilege of inaugurating the Chief of the Ó Néill.
USS O'Kane (DDG-77) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. The ship was built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, starting on 8 May 1997. The ship was commissioned on 23 October 1999. It is named for Medal of Honor recipient Rear Admiral Richard O'Kane.
USS O'Kane was built in Bath, Maine at Bath Iron Works. USS O'Kane was launched in March 1998. USS O'Kane was commissioned on 23 October 1999 under the command of CDR David Hulse in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. USS O'Kane participated in RIMPAC 2000. USS O'Kane participated in Fleet Week San Diego in October 2000. In November 2000 CDR Taylor Skardon assumed command. USS O'Kane deployed on her maiden deployment on 1 August 2001. While on deployment USS O'Kane conducted Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Northern Persian Gulf during the opening stages of Operation Enduring Freedom. USS O'Kane returned home to Pearl Harbor in late January 2002. USS O'Kane received the Battle "E" award for Destroyer Squadron 31 for 2001. USS O'Kane also received the Navy Unit Commendation, her first Armed Forces Expeditionary Award, her first Sea Service Award, and National Defense Service Awards while on her Maiden Deployment.