Name Minor Poole | Awards Navy Cross | |
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Born February 2, 1920
Brandon, Mississippi ( 1920-02-02 ) Years of service February 15, 1938 to October 12, 1942 Rank Gunner's Mate First Class Battles/wars Battle of Cape Esperance Died October 12, 1942, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands | ||
Battles and wars Battle of Cape Esperance Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Navy | ||
Minor Butler Poole (February 2, 1920, in Brandon, Mississippi - October 12, 1942, in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands) enlisted in the United States Navy February 15, 1938.
During the Battle of Cape Esperance at Guadalcanal, Poole was in charge of the Forward Magazine Flooding Control Station aboard USS Boise (CL-47). He gave up his life in an attempt to reach the flooding panel through overpowering gas fumes on October 12, 1942, and for this Gunners Mate First Class Poole posthumously received the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and courageous devotion to duty. 107 Boise crewmembers died in that battle.
Namesake
USS Poole (DE-151), named in his honor, launched May 8, 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. Minor Herndon Poole, mother of Minor Butler Poole. Poole's mother used a bottle filled with water from Liberty Creek in Mississippi to christen the ship instead of the traditional Champagne. She used it because her son learned to swim in the waters of the creek.