London Lewis Traw

Infobox Military Person
name = London Lewis Traw
born = birth date|1903|4|1
died = death date and age|1942|10|27|1903|4|1
placeofbirth = Pocahontas, Arkansas
placeofdeath = near Lunga Point,Guadalcanal


caption =
nickname =
allegiance = United States of America
serviceyears = 1924–1942
rank = Platoon Sergeant
branch = United States Marine Corps
unit = 1st Marine Division
battles = World War II *Battle for Henderson Field
awards = Silver Star (posthumous)

London Lewis Traw was born on 1 April, 1903 at Pocahontas, Arkansas.

Marine Corps career

"Traw" enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 15 December, 1924 and, in the course of a career which spanned 18 years, achieved the rank of platoon sergeant. He served with the Marine detachment on board USS Oklahoma (BB-37) for his first term of service before going into the Reserves in 1928. Returning to active duty in late 1931, Private First Class Traw served in China from August 1936 until February 1938, during which time he was promoted to Corporal and then Platoon sergeant. Following a posting to Guantánamo Bay between December 1940 and April 1941, "Platoon sergeant Traw" deployed with the First Marine Division for service in the Pacific in early 1942.

Assigned to Guadalcanal campaign

Following the 7 August, 1942 landing on Guadalcanal, "Sgt. Traw" participated in the bitter fighting around Lunga Point in the months following. On 24-25 October, a Japanese detachment attacked "Bloody Ridge" on the southern perimeter of Henderson airfield. In the course of that bitter battle, "Sgt. Traw" displayed intrepidity and courage as he directed the fire of the machine guns in his section despite tremendous enemy fire and repeated assaults by Japanese infantry far outnumbering his own. Under his leadership, the platoon made a major contribution to the rout and virtual destruction of a Japanese brigade. "Sergeant Traw" was killed in action near Lunga on Guadalcanal on 27 October, 1942.

Awarded the Silver Star

He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his role in the defeat of the Maruyama detachment.

Namesake

USS Traw (DE-350) was named in his honor. She was laid down on 19 December, 1943 at Orange, Texas, by the Consolidated Steel Corp.; launched on 12 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Jennie Traw, mother of "Sgt. Traw"; and commissioned on 20 June, 1944, Lt. Comdr. James T. Kilbreth, Jr., USNR, in command.

ee also

References

:DANFS
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/t7/traw.htm London Lewis Traw]