Lloyd Edgar Acree

Infobox Military Person
name = Lloyd Edgar Acree
born = birth date|1920|7|31
died = death date and age|1942|10|11|1920|7|31
placeofbirth = Beggs, Oklahoma
placeofdeath = at sea, near Cape Esperance


caption =
nickname =
allegiance = United States of America
serviceyears = 1940–1942
rank = Aviation Ordnanceman, 3rd class
branch = United States Navy
unit = USS Salt Lake City (CA-25)
battles = World War II *Battle of Cape Esperance
awards = Navy Cross (posthumous)

Lloyd Edgar Acree was a member of the United States Navy and a posthumous awardee of the Navy Cross.

Navy career

Acree was born on July 31, 1920 in Beggs, Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Navy 17 October 1940. After training at San Diego, California, he was assigned to USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) 10 December 1940, and became aviation ordnanceman third class 1 August. During the grim months after Pearl Harbor, Salt Lake City, against desperate odds, helped stem the tide of Japanese expansion, Following the American Invasion of Guadalcanal 7 August 1942, Acree participated in the grim struggle for control of the Solomons.

Awarded the Navy Cross

During the night of 11 to 12 October, 1942, an American cruiser-destroyer force under Rear Adm. Norman Scott intercepted a cruiser-destroyer bombardment group off Cape Esperance and repulsed the enemy after a furious night battle. Early in the action an enemy shell burst close aboard to starboard and sprayed the cruiser with shell fragments. Acree, who was holding a 5-inch shell loading into No. 3 gun, fell to the deck, seriously wounded in the abdomen. Although in intense pain, he gallantly clung to the shell to prevent its explosion. He died a short time later while undergoing emergency surgery. For his great courage and outstanding devotion to duty, Acree was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

Namesake

USS Lloyd E. Acree (DE-356) was named in his honor. She was laid down by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas, 24 January 1944; launched 21 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Ora A. Acree; and commissioned 1 August 1944, Lt. Comdr. John E. Greenbacker in command.

ee also

References

:DANFS
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l7/lloyd_e_acree.htm Lloyd E. Acree]