He graduated from United States Naval Academy in 1933, served three years on USS Maryland (BB-46)[2] and achieved submariner's qualification in 1936.

[3] Enright assumed command of the newly built USS Dace on July 23, 1943,[4] and in October sailed out on her first war patrol into busy Japanese waters.

[5] For the next two weeks the submarine provided search and rescue support to American aviators in the areas of planned air strikes.

The damage was magnified because Shinano's commander, Captain Toshio Abe [ja], had inadvertently exposed his ship's entire side to Archerfish in his haste to escape, creating an ideal firing situation for a submarine.

[7][9] On September 2, 1945, Enright and his crew, along with eleven other submarines, were honored with the task of protecting USS Missouri (BB-63) during the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Joseph Francis Enright, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the USS Archerfish (SS-311), during the Fifth War Patrol of that vessel in enemy Japanese-controlled waters in the Pacific War Area, from 30 October to 15 December 1944.

Quick to act when his ship contacted a high-speed Japanese Task Force on 28 November Commander Enright commenced an all-out pursuit, maneuvering his vessel at top speed to outdistance the zigzagging enemy aircraft carrier.

By his courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds, Commander Enright contributed materially to the success of his vessel in sinking the 72,000-ton Japanese carrier.