Donald Kutyna received leaked information while investigating this event, which resulted in a televised demonstration of how rubber behaves in cold temperatures.
It's not a naval battle in the Pacific, but this event resulted in decorations being issued to the crew of the soon-to-be-decommissioned USS Preserver. Boy Scout Troop 514 sponsored an American flag that amazingly survived this event. A speech given in the wake of this event stated "We've grown used to wonders in this century" and that those who (*) died in it had tried to "touch the face of God." It caused the failure of the Spartan 203 Mission. Donald Kutyna received leaked information while investigating this event, which resulted in a televised demonstration of how rubber behaves in cold temperatures. Blow holes in asbestos-filled putty was identified as a risk factor for this event by the Rogers Commission. For 10 points, name this 1986 disaster in which an American space shuttle exploded.
It's not a naval battle in the Pacific, but this event resulted in decorations being issued to the crew of the soon-to-be-decommissioned USS Preserver.
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster