Martin H. Ray, Jr.

Martin H. Ray, Jr.
Born	9 August 1913 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	6 June 1942 near Midway Atoll
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1934–1942
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	Hammann (DD-412)
Battles/wars	Battle of Midway
Awards	Navy Cross (posthumous)

Martin H. Ray, Jr., was born 9 August 1913, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and educated in Yonkers, New York. After one year at New York University he entered the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1934.

Navy career

Following five years service on battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), he received orders to USS Hammann (DD-412) in 1939.

Awarded the Navy Cross

While assisting the stricken USS Yorktown (CV-5) in the last stages of the Battle of Midway, 6 June 1942, Hammann took a torpedo. Lieutenant Ray as engineering officer was lost attempting to save the rapidly sinking vessel and evacuate the space below decks. The Navy Cross was awarded “For extraordinary heroism and extreme disregard of personal safety....”

Namesake

USS Martin H. Ray (DE-338) was named in his honor. The ship was laid down 27 October 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas; launched 23 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. M. H. Ray, Jr., widow of Lt. Ray, and commissioned 28 February 1944, Lt. H. V. Tucker, Jr., in command.

References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• Martin H. Ray, Jr.

Persondata
Name	Ray, Martin H., Jr.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	9 August 1913
Place of birth	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of death	6 June 1942
Place of death	near Midway Atoll