Richard Alonzo Jaccard

Infobox Military Person
name= Richard Alonzo Jaccard
born= birth date|1918|7|1
died= death date and age|1942|9|15|1918|7|1
placeofbirth= Troy, Missouri
placeofdeath= aboard USS Wasp (CV-7)


caption=
nickname= Jake
allegiance= United States of America
serviceyears= 1940–1942
rank= Ensign
branch= United States Naval Reserve
unit= "Enterprise" (CV-6)
battles= World War II *Battle of Midway *Guadalcanal/Tulagi landings *Battle of the Eastern Solomons
awards= Navy Cross Purple Heart

Richard Alonzo Jaccard (1 July 1918–15 September 1942) was born in Troy, Missouri and lived in Manhattan, Kansas.

Navy career

Jaccard enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve 29 October 1940. He later underwent flight training and upon graduation was commissioned Ensign 27 September 1941. Reporting to famed carrier USS "Enterprise" in April 1942, Ens. Jaccard took part, 4 June 1942, in one of the most important battles in all naval history, the Battle of Midway.

Awarded the Navy Cross

As American carrier groups moved to meet the Japanese thrust at Midway Island, Jaccard, as part of Scouting Squadron 6, attacked enemy carriers during the morning, knocking out "Akagi" and "Kaga". That afternoon the squadron carried out another devastating attack, sinking carrier "Hiryu", Ens. Jaccard also participated in attacks in the Japanese cruisers Mikuma and Mogami. For his part in a great victory, Jaccard was awarded the Navy Cross.

Transferred to Bombing Squadron 6

Ens. Jaccard flew with Bombing Squadron 6 in support of the landings at Guadalcanal and Tulagi as well as the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in which "Enterprise" was severely damaged. Bombing 6 was ordered to Efate where a four plane division including Ens. Jaccard was detached and sent to the USS "Wasp".

Ens. Jaccard was killed when "Wasp" was torpedoed and sunk 15 September 1942.

Namesake

USS "Jaccard" (DE-355) was named in his honor. She was launched by Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Texas, 18 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. C. R. Jaccard, mother of Ensign Jaccard; and commissioned 26 July 1944, Lt. Comdr. C. R. Hamilton in command.

ee also

References

:DANFS
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j1/jaccard.htm Richard Alonzo Jaccard]
* [http://www.cv6.org/ship/logs/action19420604-vs6.htm Scouting Six Action Report]
* [http://www.ussjaccard.com/ USS Jaccard website]
* "The Big E, The Story of the USS Enterprise", Edward P. Stafford, ISBN-10: 1557509980, ISBN-13: 978-1557509987
* "Incredible Victory", Walter Lord, ISBN-10: 1580800599 ISBN-13: 978-1580800594
* "Carrier Combat", Lt. Fred Mears, ASIN: B000V6MQB4