During World War II, Andrew May became associated with one of the conflict’s most damaging intelligence disclosures. After returning from a visit to the Pacific theater, May held a press conference intended to commend the Navy and boost morale on the home front. During his remarks, however, he casually revealed that American submarines were capable of diving much deeper than Japanese forces believed possible.
What may have seemed like an insignificant observation ultimately carried serious consequences. Following the disclosure, Japanese anti-submarine forces reportedly adjusted the settings on their depth charges, greatly improving their effectiveness against U.S. submarines. Later assessments suggested that the incident may have contributed to the destruction of at least ten American submarines and the deaths of approximately 800 U.S. sailors, serving as a stark reminder of how seemingly minor public statements can have devastating effects during wartime.
The May Incident
The United States Navy gained significant recognition for its successes after the U.S. entered WWII. Despite the Japanese efforts to destroy American vessels, Allied forces were able to dodge many attacks. This success was largely attributed to the superior capabilities of Balao-class submarines, which could dive as deep as 400 feet—beyond the depth settings of the Japanese depth charges used at the time. This advantage enabled the submarines to evade many Japanese counterattacks, contributing to the Navy’s effectiveness in the Pacific theater.
In 1943, Andrew May, chairman of the House Military Affairs Committee, toured American military sites in the Pacific Theater and was granted access to sensitive, classified information. Upon his return in June, he held a press conference where he revealed that American submarines enjoyed a high survival rate because Japanese depth charges were set to explode at insufficient depths.
This revelation quickly made its way through press wires. It was published in newspapers across the United States, providing the enemy with valuable intelligence that would later contribute to significant losses for the U.S. Navy.
The fallout of a blabbermouth
After this information became public, the Japanese navy adjusted its depth charges to explode at greater depths. Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, who led the U.S. Pacific submarine fleet, believed that May’s comments contributed to the loss of 10 submarines and around 800 crew members.
“I hear Congressman May said the Jap depth charges are not set deep enough,” he said. “He would be pleased to know that the Japs set them deeper now.”
After the press conference, the Navy’s Pacific Submarine Fleet issued a report stating that Japanese anti-submarine forces still hadn’t figured out the maximum depth U.S. submarines could reach. However, the report did not confirm whether May’s statements directly influenced Japanese tactics.
Alleged war profiteering
Andrew May’s time in Congress became increasingly marred by controversy, driven by both his disputed comments during World War II and his connections to questionable political associates. Among those associates were Henry and Murray Garsson, New York businessmen who sought to capitalize on the wartime surge in weapons manufacturing. Despite having little background in the munitions industry, the Garsson brothers obtained lucrative government contracts through May’s political support. As questions about the arrangement grew, accusations of corruption and unethical conduct began to attract public attention. The following scandal became one of the most notorious political controversies of the war years, causing major harm to May’s reputation and leaving a lasting stain on his congressional legacy.
As head of the House Military Affairs Committee, Andrew May wielded significant authority and used that position to advance the interests of Henry and Murray Garsson. By applying pressure to Army ordnance personnel and high-ranking military officials, the Garsson brothers obtained profitable wartime contracts, received preferential treatment, and assisted certain individuals in avoiding the draft. In exchange, May was allegedly paid large sums of money through an illegal scheme that remained concealed until it was brought to light by a Senate investigation after the war.
The inquiry exposed a major scandal, uncovering extensive war profiteering as well as serious defects in ammunition produced by the Garssons’ businesses. Among the most troubling findings were faulty 4.2-inch mortar shell fuzes that exploded too early and were reportedly responsible for the deaths of 38 American servicemen.
Paying for his actions… Maybe?
Andrew May’s wartime actions ultimately had lasting consequences. Defeated in his 1946 re-election campaign, he was later prosecuted on federal bribery charges. On July 3, 1947, a jury took less than two hours to reach a guilty verdict. Despite efforts to stay out of prison, he ultimately served nine months in federal custody.
Murray Garsson and Henry Garsson were likewise convicted and sentenced to prison
Although his reputation had been badly tarnished, May continued to maintain influence within Democratic political circles. Those relationships ultimately helped him secure a full pardon from President Harry Truman in 1952. Despite receiving the pardon, he never regained his political standing, returning instead to Kentucky, where he resumed practicing law until his death.