Lloyd Edgar Acree

Lloyd Edgar Acree
Born (1920-07-31)July 31, 1920
Beggs, Oklahoma
Died October 11, 1942(1942-10-11) (aged 22)
at sea, near Cape Esperance
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1940–1942
Rank Aviation Ordnanceman, 3rd class
Unit USS Salt Lake City (CA-25)
Battles/wars World War II
*Battle of Cape Esperance
Awards Navy Cross (posthumous)

Lloyd Edgar Acree was a member of the United States Navy and a posthumous awardee of the Navy Cross.

Acree was born on July 31, 1920 in Beggs, Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Navy October 17, 1940. After training at San Diego, California, he was assigned to USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) December 10, 1940, and became aviation ordnanceman third class August 1. During the grim months after Pearl Harbor, Salt Lake City, against desperate odds, helped stem the tide of Japanese expansion, Following the American Invasion of Guadalcanal August 7, 1942, Acree participated in the grim struggle for control of the Solomons.

Awarded the Navy Cross

During the night of 11 to October 12, 1942, an American cruiser-destroyer force under Rear Adm. 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.

Namesake

USS Lloyd E. Acree (DE-356) was named in his honor. She was laid down by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas, January 24, 1944; launched March 21, 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Ora A. Acree; and commissioned August 1, 1944, Lt. Comdr. John E. Greenbacker in command.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
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