Lambert was an eyewitness and was also awarded a Bronze Star. He is listed as RD-1, apparently an enlisted rating.
RD-1 is Radarman First Class. (now call OS - operations specialist). What is kind of odd is that there were a lot of relatively high ranking POs on the boats. A Petty officer first class is an E6. Never new anyone who did that in one 4 year tour. I couldn't even go for E5 because you needed to have 2 years left in your service obligation to be considered.