Lloyd Edgar Acree
Lloyd Edgar Acree | |
|---|---|
| File:Lloyd Edgar Acree.jpg | |
| Born | July 31, 1920 Beggs, Oklahoma |
| Died | October 11, 1942 (aged 22) at sea, near Cape Esperance |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1940–1942 |
| Rank | Aviation Ordnanceman, 3rd class |
| Unit | USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) |
| Battles/wars | World War II *Battle of Cape Esperance |
| Awards | Navy Cross (posthumous) |
Lloyd Edgar Acree was a member of the United States Navy and a posthumous awardee of the Navy Cross.
Acree was born on July 31, 1920, in Beggs, Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Navy on October 17, 1940. After training at San Diego, California, he was assigned to USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) on December 10, 1940, and became an aviation ordnanceman third class on August 1. During the grim months after Pearl Harbor, Salt Lake City, against desperate odds, helped stem the tide of Japanese expansion. Following the American Invasion of Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942, Acree participated in the grim struggle for control of the Solomons.
During the night of October 11–12, 1942, an American cruiser–destroyer force under Rear Adm. Norman Scott intercepted a cruiser-destroyer bombardment group off Cape Esperance and repulsed the enemy after a furious night battle. Early in the action, an enemy shell burst close aboard to starboard and sprayed the cruiser with shell fragments. Acree, who was holding a 5-inch shell loading into No. 3 gun, fell to the deck, seriously wounded in the abdomen. Although in intense pain, he gallantly clung to the shell to prevent its explosion. He died a short time later while undergoing emergency surgery. For his great courage and outstanding devotion to duty, Acree was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
Namesake
USS Lloyd E. Acree (DE-356) was named in his honor. She was laid down by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas, on January 24, 1944; launched on March 21, 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Ora A. Acree; and commissioned on August 1, 1944, Lt. Comdr. John E. Greenbacker in command.
See also
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
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