Allegiance United States Died December 16, 1917 Name Stanton Kalk | Years of service 1916 - 1917 | |
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Born 14 October 1894Mobile County, Alabama ( 1894-10-14 ) Battles/wars World War IBattle of the Atlantic Place of burial Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial, Brookwood, United Kingdom Awards Distinguished Service Medal Battles and wars World War I, Atlantic U-boat campaign of World War I | ||
Stanton Frederick Kalk (14 October 1894 – 6 December 1917) was an officer in the United States Navy during World War I. He received the Navy's Distinguished Service Medal for his actions after his ship was torpedoed by a German submarine.
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Biography
Born in Mobile County, Alabama, Kalk graduated from the Naval Academy in 1916.
After serving in the battleship USS Florida (BB-30), he was assigned to the destroyer USS Jacob Jones (DD-61) on 10 September 1917. While steaming on patrol duty from Brest, France, to Queenstown, Ireland, Jacob Jones was attacked 6 December by German submarine U-53. Although Kalk, officer-of-the-deck during the attack, "took correct and especially prompt measures in maneuvering to avoid the torpedo," the destroyer could not turn in time to escape. She sank stern first in 8 minutes. Though stunned by the explosion and weakened by his action after the ship went down, Kalk swam from one raft to another in an attempt to equalize weight on them. Displaying "extraordinary heroism," he disregarded his own condition while endeavoring to save the lives of his men. Game to the last, Kalk overtaxed his own strength; he died from exposure and exhaustion.
For his "splendid self-sacrifice" Lt. (j.g.) Kalk was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
Namesake
The destroyer USS Kalk (DD-170) was named for him.