Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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World War II - U.S. Navy

Lawson Paterson "Red" Ramage

Details
  • Rank: Commander (Highest Rank: Vice Admiral)
  • Conflict/Era: World War II
  • Unit/Command:
    U.S.S. Parche
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: July 31, 1944
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: off Taiwan
Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Parche in a predawn attack on a Japanese convoy, 31 July 1944. Boldly penetrating the screen of a heavily escorted convoy, Comdr. Ramage launched a perilous surface attack by delivering a crippling stern shot into a freighter and quickly following up with a series of bow and stern torpedoes to sink the leading tanker and damage the second one. Exposed by the light of bursting flares and bravely defiant of terrific shellfire passing close overhead, he struck again, sinking a transport by two forward reloads. In the mounting fury of fire from the damaged and sinking tanker, he calmly ordered his men below, remaining on the bridge to fight it out with an enemy now disorganized and confused. Swift to act as a fast transport closed in to ram, Comdr. Ramage daringly swung the stern of the speeding Parche as she crossed the bow of the onrushing ship, clearing by less than 50 feet but placing his submarine in a deadly crossfire from escorts on all sides and with the transport dead ahead. Undaunted, he sent three smashing "down the throat" bow shots to stop the target, then scored a killing hit as a climax to 46 minutes of violent action with the Parche and her valiant fighting company retiring victorious and unscathed.

Medal of Honor Recipient Lawson Paterson "Red" Ramage
Medal of Honor Recipient Lawson Paterson "Red" Ramage
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: Vermont
  • Awarded Posthumously: No
  • Presentation Date & Details: January 10, 1945

    The White House, presented by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt

  • Born: January 19, 1909, Monroe Bridge, Franklin County, MA, United States
  • Died: April 15, 1990, Bethesda, MD, United States
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery (MH) (7-A-184), Arlington, VA, United States
 

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