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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)
Vietnam War/Advisory Campaign (62-65)
From Month/Year
March / 1962
To Month/Year
March / 1965
Description This campaign period was from 15 March 1962 to 7 March 1965. In the early days of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Sailors worked with the developing Vietnamese Navy as advisors, helping them with such things as logistical support, vessel construction techniques, and so forth. As the Communist insurgency increased, the Americans became more and more involved in combat operations.
The average American naval advisor was dedicated to preparing the Vietnamese Navy to some day stand alone against the Communist foe. Often assigned to vessels or bases lacking even basic amenities, the advisor also shared the risks of combat with his hosts. His task was a heavy one. Not empowered to give orders, he could only hope to persuade his Vietnamese counterpart that a particular course of action was warranted. That advice often was ignored. Aside from the natural difficulty of getting others to accept counsel, the naval advisor was often hampered by the language barrier and differences in cultures, educational levels, and personalities that separated him from his counterpart. Furthermore, the one-year tour completed by most advisors did not allow them enough time to learn the job and bring about meaningful change. Despite all this, the Naval Advisory Group helped improve the Vietnamese naval service in important respects.
During this phase, The first significant U.S. naval engagement of the war was the famous Tonkin Gulf incident of 1964. On the afternoon of 2 August, three North Vietnamese motor torpedo boats attacked the destroyer Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin with gunfire and torpedoes. On the night of 4 August, Maddox and another destroyer, Turner Joy, reported fighting a running battle with hostile patrol craft in the middle of the gulf. Communications intercepts and other relevant information convinced Washington that an attack had taken place. At President Lyndon B. Johnson's direction, on 5 August navy carrier forces bombed North Vietnam. Two days later, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which Johnson thereafter used to wage war in Vietnam. A sustained bombing campaign of the North (dubbed "Rolling Thunder") began on 2 March 1965.