31 July 1944 Lawson Ramage, Commanding Officer of the USS Parche SS 384, penetrated the screen of a Japanese Convoy and initiated a surface action by crippling a freighter. He then redirected action against the two lead tankers sinking one and damaging the second. Ramage calmly ordered the Bridge Crew below while he remained; exposed by flares he altered course to avoid a transport attempting to ram which placed him and Parche in a cross fire. With shellfire passing overhead he sent torpedoes “down the throat” to sink the transport. Parche received the Presidential Unit Citation for this action and Commander Ramage was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Ramage continued his Naval career after the war and attained the rank of Vice Admiral. Photo is of the Bridge structure, shears and upper gun at Pearl Harbor.
© Gregg Smith
Know a Subvet in East Idaho? Please share with them
Follow us on our Facebook page “Sub vets of East Idaho