Years of service 1940–1942 | Battles and wars World War II Name Lloyd Acree Unit USS Salt Lake City | |
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Born July 31, 1920
Beggs, Oklahoma ( 1920-07-31 ) Rank Aviation Ordnanceman, 3rd class Battles/wars World War II
*Battle of Cape Esperance Awards Navy Cross (posthumous) Died October 11, 1942, Cape Esperance | ||
Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Navy | ||
Lloyd Edgar Acree was a member of the United States Navy and a posthumous awardee of the Navy Cross.
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Navy career
Acree was born on July 31, 1920 in Beggs, Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Navy October 17, 1940. After training at San Diego, California, he was assigned to USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) December 10, 1940, and became aviation ordnanceman third class 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 August 7, 1942, Acree participated in the grim struggle for control of the Solomons.
Awarded the Navy Cross
During the night of 11 to October 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, January 24, 1944; launched March 21, 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Ora A. Acree; and commissioned August 1, 1944, Lt. Comdr. John E. Greenbacker in command.