During the latter part of 1949, Rear Admiral Rafael Celestino Benítez was given the command of the submarine USS Cochino.
 On August 12, 1949,Cochino, along with USS Tusk, departed from the harbor of Portsmouth, England.
Both diesel submarines were reported to be on a cold-water training mission.
However, the submarines were equipped with snorkels that allowed them to spend long periods underwater, largely invisible to an enemy, and with electronic gear designed to detect far-off radio signals – were part of an American intelligence operation.

The mission of Cochino and Tusk was to eavesdrop on communications that revealed the testing of submarine-launched Soviet missiles that might soon carry nuclear warheads.
 This was the first American undersea spy mission of the cold war.

On August 25, one of Cochino's 4,000-pound batteries caught fire, emitting hydrogen gas and smoke.
Unable to receive any help from Tusk, Commander Benitez directed the firefighting.
He ordered Cochino to surface and had the crew members lash themselves to the deck rails with ropes while others fought the blaze.
Benitez tried to save his ship and at the same time save his men from the toxic gases.
He realized that the winds were about to tear the ropes and ordered his men to form a pyramid on the ship's open bridge, which was designed to hold seven men.

The ocean waters became calmer during the night and Tusk was able to approach Cochino.
All of the crew, with the exception of Commander Benitez and two of the crew who perished during the ordeal, boarded Tusk.
Finally, the crew members of Tusk convinced Benitez to board Tusk, which he did two minutes before Cochino sank off the coast of Norway.

In 1952, Benitez was named chief of the United States naval mission to Cuba, a position which he held until 1954.
In 1955, Rear Admiral Benitez was given the command of the destroyer USS Waldron.
 Waldron resumed normal operations along the east coast and in the West Indies under his command after having completed a circumnavigation of the globe.
Rear Admiral Rafael Celestino Benítez was the recipient of two Silver Star Medals.
During the latter part of 1949, Rear Admiral Rafael Celestino Benítez was given the command of the submarine USS Cochino.  On August 12, 1949,Cochino, along with USS Tusk, departed from the harbor of Portsmouth, England. Both diesel submarines were reported to be on a cold-water training mission. However, the submarines were equipped with snorkels that allowed them to spend long periods underwater, largely invisible to an enemy, and with electronic gear designed to detect far-off radio signals – were part of an American intelligence operation.
The mission of Cochino and Tusk was to eavesdrop on communications that revealed the testing of submarine-launched Soviet missiles that might soon carry nuclear warheads.  This was the first American undersea spy mission of the cold war.
On August 25, one of Cochino's 4,000-pound batteries caught fire, emitting hydrogen gas and smoke. Unable to receive any help from Tusk, Commander Benitez directed the firefighting. He ordered Cochino to surface and had the crew members lash themselves to the deck rails with ropes while others fought the blaze. Benitez tried to save his ship and at the same time save his men from the toxic gases. He realized that the winds were about to tear the ropes and ordered his men to form a pyramid on the ship's open bridge, which was designed to hold seven men.
The ocean waters became calmer during the night and Tusk was able to approach Cochino. All of the crew, with the exception of Commander Benitez and two of the crew who perished during the ordeal, boarded Tusk. Finally, the crew members of Tusk convinced Benitez to board Tusk, which he did two minutes before Cochino sank off the coast of Norway.
In 1952, Benitez was named chief of the United States naval mission to Cuba, a position which he held until 1954. In 1955, Rear Admiral Benitez was given the command of the destroyer USS Waldron.  Waldron resumed normal operations along the east coast and in the West Indies under his command after having completed a circumnavigation of the globe. Rear Admiral Rafael Celestino Benítez was the recipient of two Silver Star Medals.
Hispanics in the United States Navy