This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Shane Laemmel, MR3
to remember
Ramsey, Lyle, CAPT.
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Contact Info
Home Town Topsy, MO
Last Address Greenwich, CT
Date of Passing Dec 11, 2008
Location of Interment Rosedale Cemetery - Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Wall/Plot Coordinates 74254604
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Other Comments:
Lt. Lyle B. Ramsey, U.S. NAVY for service as set forth in the following Citation is awarded a Letter of Commendation.
"For meritorious conduct as spotting officer of a heavy cruiser during operations of U. S. naval forces against superior enemy surface units off ____. Against an enemy completely alert and already shooting, Lt. Ramsey made observations that caused early damage to an enemy cruiser at a range of twenty thousand yards; and during the ensuing three hours or more, further damage to that and other ships. During part of the action, Lt. Ramsey's visibility was restricted by smoke pipe gases. Lt. Ramsey was charged wit the laborious duty of repair, upkeep and alignment. The excellent state of readiness of the main battery of his ship was evidenced by its outstanding performance in action. The conduct of Lt. Ramsey was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the naval service."
s/ T. C. Kinkaid, Vice Admiral, U. S. Navy
Permanent Citation
Central Pacific Campaign (1941-43)/Battle of Wake Island
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1941
Description The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on 23 December 1941, with the surrender of the American forces to the Empire of Japan. It was fought on and around the atoll formed by Wake Island and its islets of Peale and Wilkes Islands by the air, land and naval forces of the Empire of Japan against those of the U.S., with Marines playing a prominent role on both sides.
The island was held by the Japanese for the duration of the Pacific War; the remaining Japanese garrison on the island surrendered to a detachment of United States Marines on 4 September 1945.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1941
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories On 7 December 1941, when the United States was brought into World War II by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Salt Lake City?under the command of Capt. Ellis M. Zacharias?was with the Enterprise task group, returning from Wake Island, 200 nmi (230 mi; 370 km) west of Pearl Harbor when they received word of the attack. The group immediately launched scouting planes in hopes of catching possible stragglers from the enemy force, but the search proved fruitless. The ships entered Pearl Harbor toward sundown on the 8th.
After a tedious night refueling, they sortied before dawn to hunt submarines north of the islands. Submarines were encountered on the 10th-11th. The first?I-70?was sunk by dive bombers from Enterprise; the second?sighted ahead of the group on the surface?was engaged with gunfire by Salt Lake City as the ships maneuvered to avoid torpedoes. Screening destroyers made numerous depth charge runs, but no kill was confirmed. Operations against a third contact brought similar results. The group returned to Pearl Harbor on 15 December to refuel.
Salt Lake City operated with Task Force 8 (TF 8) until 23 December, covering Oahu and supporting the task force strike that was planned to relieve beleaguered Wake Island.
