This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Nicole Summers, MMFN
to remember
Acree, Lloyd Edgar, AOM3c.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Beggs, OK
Last Address Tulsa, OK
Casualty Date Oct 12, 1942
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Multiple Fragmentation Wounds
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Following the American Invasion of Guadalcanal 7 August 1942, Acree participated in the grim struggle for control of the Solomons. During the night of 11 to 12 October, 1946, an American cruiser-destroyer force under Rear Admiral 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.
Although he was buried at sea, a memorial marker was erected at Memroial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, OK.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 3563872
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Salt Lake City (CA-25)
General Orders: Letter (February 26, 1943), P15/(02): Serial 0319
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class Lloyd Edgar Acree (NSN: 3563872), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. SALT LAKE CITY (CA-25), during action against enemy Japanese naval forces off Savo Island during the Battle of Cape Esperance on the night of 11 - 12 October 1942. On that date Task Group 64.2, of which the U.S.S. SALT LAKE CITY was a unit, engaged a Japanese force of cruisers and destroyers. Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class Acree was a relief fuse pot loader on five-inch gun #1. During the action, he was struck by shell fragments in the arm and abdomen, causing him to fall to the deck. Despite his injuries, he continued to hold the shell and to protect the base and primer with his hand. Both the main arm and 5-inch batteries of the ship were firing at the same time, and a shell rolling loose on the deck would have constituted a serious hazard to personnel and might well have hampered the effectiveness of the forward five-inch battery. During the next lull, he was given first aid, but died shortly thereafter. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States. He gallantly gave his life for his country.