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Kent Weekly (SS/DSV) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Gatch, Thomas Leigh, VADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Salem, OR
Last Address San Diego, CA
Date of Passing Dec 18, 1954
Location of Interment Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (VA) - San Diego, California
Wall/Plot Coordinates OSA 159
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
When a visitor to his home asked him why he didn't duck and save himself, Captain Gatch said " The Captain of a United States Battleship considered it beneath his dignity to flop for a damned Japanese bomb"
Vice Admiral Gatch was the Commanding Officer of the USS South Dakota (BB-57) during the Battle of Santa Cruz.
Other Comments:
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. South Dakota (BB-57)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Thomas Leigh Gatch, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Battleship U.S.S. SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57), during action of his Task Force against enemy Japanese carrier-based planes north of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. While the Task force as being subjected to intensely heavy and sustained enemy aerial attack, Captain Gatch boldly closed the SOUTH DAKOTA to furnish determined and effective defense of the carrier. In this position, he fought the SOUTH DAKOTA valiantly until an enemy bomb wounded him so seriously he was forced to turn over his command. His courage, outstanding seamanship and gallant devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
General Orders Commander Southern Pacific Forces: Serial 0739 (May 2, 1943) & Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 318 (September 1943)
Citation: 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 Thomas Leigh Gatch, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Battleship U.S.S. SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57), during an engagement with Japanese naval forces off Savo Island on the night of 14 - 15 November 1942. Although partially disabled and suffering acute pain from a previous wound, Captain Gatch, with bold determination and courageous zeal, gallantly fought his ship through a concentrated bombardment of hostile fire. His calm coolness in the face of great danger and inspiring leadership contributed to the high combat efficiency which enabled the SOUTH DAKOTA to sink at least one Japanese cruiser and to assist in the destruction and damage of other enemy vessels. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-43)/Battle of Cape Esperance
From Month/Year
October / 1942
To Month/Year
October / 1942
Description Cape Esperance (Second Savo) October 11–12, 1942. The Battle of Cape Esperance, also known as the Second Battle of Savo Island and, in Japanese sources, as the Sea Battle of Savo Island, took place on 11–12 October 1942, and was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and United States Navy. The battle was the second of four major surface engagements during the Guadalcanal campaign and took place at the entrance to the strait between Savo Island and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Cape Esperance (9°15′S 159°42′E) is the northernmost point on Guadalcanal, and the battle took its name from this point.
On the night of 11 October, Japanese naval forces in the Solomon Islands area—under the command of Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa—sent a major supply and reinforcement convoy to their forces on Guadalcanal. The convoy consisted of two seaplane tenders and six destroyers and was commanded by Rear Admiral Takatsugu Jojima. At the same time, but in a separate operation, three heavy cruisers and two destroyers—under the command of Rear Admiral Aritomo Goto-were to bombard the Allied airfield on Guadalcanal (called Henderson Field by the Allies) with the object of destroying Allied aircraft and the airfield's facilities.
Shortly before midnight on 11 October, a U.S force of four cruisers and five destroyers—under the command of Rear Admiral Norman Scott—intercepted Goto's force as it approached Savo Island near Guadalcanal. Taking the Japanese by surprise, Scott's warships sank one of Goto's cruisers and one of his destroyers, heavily damaged another cruiser, mortally wounded Goto, and forced the rest of Goto's warships to abandon the bombardment mission and retreat. During the exchange of gunfire, one of Scott's destroyers was sunk and one cruiser and another destroyer were heavily damaged. In the meantime, the Japanese supply convoy successfully completed unloading at Guadalcanal and began its return journey without being discovered by Scott's force. Later on the morning of 12 October, four Japanese destroyers from the supply convoy turned back to assist Goto's retreating, damaged warships. Air attacks by U.S. aircraft from Henderson Field sank two of these destroyers later that day.
As with the preceding naval engagements, around Guadalcanal, the strategic outcome was inconsequential because neither the Japanese nor United States navies secured operational control of the waters around Guadalcanal as a result of this action. However, the Battle of Cape Esperance provided a significant morale boost to the US Navy after the disaster of Savo Island.
