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Gano, Roy Alexander, VADM.
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Contact Info
Home Town Pipestone, MN
Date of Passing Jan 20, 1971
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section: 5 Grave: 40
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Vice Admiral ROY A. GANO, Commander, Military Sea Transportation Service, Department of the Navy, was twice awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while commanding USS Dyson, a destroyer assigned to Destroyer Squadron Twenty-three (nicknamed the Little Beavers Squadron). His first Navy Cross was for extraordinary heroism displayed in a night engagement with six enemy Japanese warships off Bougainville, British Solomon Islands, on November 24-25, 1943. He fought his ship with resolute courage and daring aggressiveness, frequently risking his own personal safety to press home vigorous, unrelenting attacks upon japanese surface forces, thus contributing materially to the crushing defeat imposed upon the enemy in the sinking of four ships and the serious damaging of two others.
Vice Admiral Gano recieved his second Navy Cross (Gold Star in Lieu of) for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the USS Dyson, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on the night of November 1-2, 1943. With his Task Force engaging a Japanese surface force of superior fire power, he hurled the full fighting strength of his ship against the enemy and assisted his Task Force in sinking five hostile warships, in damaging four others and in completely routing the enemy, thereby contributing materially to the successful establishment of our beachhead on Bougainville Island.
Other Comments:
Name of Award
Navy Cross (X2)
Year Awarded
1943
1943
Details behind Award:
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain [then Commander] Roy Alexander Gano (NSN: 0-60236/1100), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. DYSON (DD-509), during an engagement with Japanese naval forces at Empress Augusta Bay, off Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on the night of 1 - 2 November 1943. With his Task Force engaging a Japanese surface force of superior fire power, Captain Gano hurled the full fighting strength of his ship against the enemy and, by his inspiring leadership and skilled combat tactics, aided his Task Force in sinking five hostile warships, in damaging four others and in completely routing the enemy, thereby contributing materially to the successful establishment of our beachhead on Bougainville Island. His determination, relentless fighting spirit and gallant devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander South Pacific Area: Serial 00162 (January 14, 1944) Action Date: November 1 - 2, 1943 Service: Navy Rank: Captain Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Dyson (DD-572)
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Captain [then Commander] Roy Alexander Gano (NSN: 0-60236/1100), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. DYSON (DD-572), attached to Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-THREE (DesRon 23), during a night engagement with the six enemy Japanese warships off Bougainville, British Solomon Islands, during the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay on 24 and 25 November 1943. Seeking out and fearlessly engaging a powerful enemy, Captain Gano fought his ship with resolute courage and daring aggressiveness, frequently risking his own personal safety to press home vigorous, unrelenting attacks upon Japanese surface forces. By his extreme valor and inspiring leadership, he evoked the indomitable fighting spirit which enabled the gallant officers and men under his command to contribute materially to the crushing defeat imposed upon the enemy in the sinking of four ships and the serious damaging of two others. An expert seaman and tactician, Captain Gano retired the DYSON from the engagement without loss or damage and his high devotion to duty and splendid conduct throughout the action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander South Pacific: Serial 00193 (January 17, 1944) Action Date: November 24 - 25, 1943 Service: Navy Rank: Captain Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Dyson (DD-572)
USS Cimarron (AO-22)
USS Platte (AO-24)
USS Dewey (DD-349)
USS Monssen (DD-436)
Dewey was launched 28 July 1934 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; sponsored by Miss A. M. Dewey, great-grandniece of Admiral Dewey; and commissioned 4 October 1934,CommanderH. W. Hill in command.
After two training cruises to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, andPort-au-Prince, Haiti, Dewey sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, 1 April 1935 for San Diego, California, arriving 14 April. Until 1938 she operated principally from this port on local operations as well as engaging in fleet tactics, battle practice, and scheduled exercises. She cruised along the West Coast as far north as Alaska and as far south as Callao, Peru, and made three cruises to the Hawaiian area. From 4 January to 12 April 1939 she returned to the Atlantic for a fleet problem.Dewey arrived at Pearl Harbor 12 October 1939 and participated in tactical exercises, battle practice, fleet problems, and maneuvers until 1941.
When the JapaneseattackedPearl Harbor 7 December 1941, Dewey was undergoing tender overhaul. She took the enemy planes under attack and that afternoon got underway to patrol in the Hawaiian area. On 15 December she joined TF 11 sailing to relieve the Marine garrison on Wake Island, which fell on 23 December. Dewey returned to her patrol assignment.
In February 1942 she rejoined TF 11 for a projected strike onRabaul. The force was sighted by two enemy patrol planes and the strike was canceled after Dewey aided in downing some of 18 bombers led to the force by radio reports from the patrol planes. She continued to screen Lexington in the strikes on Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea, on 10 March and returned to Pearl Harbor on the 26th.
TF 11 sortied from Pearl Harbor 15 April 1942 for operations in the Solomon Islands. On 5 May word came that the Japanese were advancing on Port Moresby, and Dewey's group joined Yorktown in the Battle of the Coral Sea. When Lexington came under intensive attack, Dewey joined in sending up antiaircraft fire, suffering five men wounded from enemy strafing. Lexington was badly hit, and as fires raged out of control, she was abandoned, withDewey rescuing 112 of the carrier's survivors. She screened Yorktown into Noumea 12 May, and then returned to Pearl Harbor 25 May in the screen for Enterprise.
Dewey sailed three days later in the Enterprise task force. The Battle of Midway was joined 2 to 6 June, and throughout this action Dewey screened Platte. Returning to Pearl Harbor 9 June, Dewey escorted Saratoga as the carrier brought an air squadron to Midway between 22 and 29 June. On 7 July she cleared for the initial landings onGuadalcanal, which she bombarded 7 August. On that day of the first assault, Dewey fired on attacking dive bombers, whose bombs wounded one of her men. She went to the rescue of two ships, aiding Jarvis to regain power, and towing George F. Elliott until her damage made it necessary to abandon her. Dewey rescued 40 of the transport's survivors.
Dewey remained in the Solomons to protect supply and communication lines, and screened Saratoga during theBattle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August 1942. She escorted Saratoga, damaged by submarine torpedo 31 August, to Pearl Harbor, arriving 23 September, and 6 days later sailed for overhaul at San Francisco. On 27 December 1942 she got underway for duty in Alaskan waters. When Worden ran aground at Amchitka, Deweyattempted to tow her off the rocks, then aided in rescuing her survivors when stormy weather forced her abandonment. On 7 April 1943, Dewey sailed for San Pedro to escort an assault group to Attu for the invasion 11 May. She also took part in the landings at Kiska 15 August, before escorting a group of LSTs to San Francisco, arriving 19 September.
Sailing from San Diego 13 January 1944, Dewey arrived off Kwajalein 31 January and served as escort during the carrier strike on Majuro of 11 February and the invasion landings on Eniwetok on 18 February. She escorted convoys between Eniwetok, Roi, and Majuro, and bombarded Mille Atoll on 17-18 March. From 22 March to 6 June, she operated in the screen of TF 58, taking part in raids on Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai; the invasion of Hollandiaon 21 and 22 April; and the strike on Truk of 29 April to 1 May. On 6 June, she sailed to screen carriers in fighter sweeps against Tinian and Saipan on 11 June, then bombarded of Saipan and Tinian on 13 and 14 June, when she fired on enemy barges and started a fire in an oil dump. During the Marianas landings, Dewey screened the carriers during the resulting Battle of the Philippine Sea on 19 and 20 June, and rescued several pilots and crew members who were forced to ditch.
Dewey joined the transport screen 1 July 1944 for the invasion of Guam. She furnished close fire support for reconnaissance groups, covered the work of underwater demolition teams, conducted night harassing fire, and patrolled off the island until 28 July, when she sailed for a brief overhaul at Puget Sound Navy Yard.
Dewey put to sea 30 September 1944 to join the logistics group for the 3rd Fleet on 10 October. She screened this group in its refueling operations for the Philippines invasion until the typhoon of 18 December, which heavily damaged the units of the 3rd Fleet. Dewey had lost all power by noon, and was rolling more than 75 degrees; her number one stack was torn and thrown against the boat deck. She rejoined her group 8 February 1945, after repairs had been completed at Ulithi, and arrived at Iwo Jima 17 February, where she assisted in putting out fires onPatuxent. Aiding the Marines who assaulted the island 19 February, she helped break up a Japanese counter-attack by firing star shell illumination on 23 February.
After escorting a convoy to Leyte from 4 to 6 March 1945, Dewey rejoined the logistics group for the Okinawa operation, screening the oilers as they refueled the carriers in preinvasion air strikes and the raids in the Far East, which continued until the end of the war.
