Macon (CA 132) - Naval Cruise Book

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LAWSON P. RAMAGE REAR ADMIRAL, U. S. NAVY For conspicious galUnttry and iiUrepcdity at the lisk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty as Com- manding Officer of the USS PARCHEE in a predawn at- tack on a Japa7iese convoy, 31 July 1944 . . . This excerpt from the Medal ot Honor awarded to RADM Ramage is ilkistrative of the career of Cominaiukr Cruis- er Division TWO, the only flag officer on actixc tint) in the Navy who holds the Congressional Medal ol Honor. Lawson P. Ramage was born in Monroe Bridge, Massa- chusetts on 19 January 1909, and attended schools in New York and Massachusetts belore entering the Naval Academy in 1927. At the Academy he was a participant in such athletics as soccer, lacrosse and wrestling. He re- ceived his commission as Ensign with the class ol 1931. The four years .following his graduation Ironi the Naval Academy were spent at sea in the VSS DICKEli- SON, USS LAWRENCE, and USS LOUISVILLE. RADM Ramage then began a long association with sub- marines when he was under instruction at the Suljmarine liase in New London, Conneciicut from June to I e- lendjer 1935. He served in the USS S-29 based in Hono- kdu from January 1936 to May 1938. Alter a postgraduate course in General Line at the Academy he joined the USS SANDS as Executive OUicer when she was re-coni- missioned in September 1939, and served aboard her iMitil February 1941. He was serving at Pearl Harbor as Radio and Sound Officer on the Staff of Commander Subinarines, Pacific Fleet, when the Japanese attacked the Fleet there on 7 December 1911. Lf. Ram ' nge partirijmted in a irar fMitrol of the USS GRENADIET (SS-212) from April to June 1912. and for ' ■Consjnruous gallantry and iutre- pidity as Navigator . . . he was awarded the Silvi-r Star Medal. His own suljniarine the i ' SS TROUT iS.S-2112) was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and he was personally awarded the Ncwy Cross. His next command was liie USS PARCHEE which made loiu ' patrols in tiie Soutii China Sea while he was skipper, and won a Presidential Unit Citation. For ex- traordinary heroism in action during War Patrols against heavily escorted enemy Japanese convoys in restricted waters cjl the Pacilic. Boldly ])enetrating the strong hos- tile screen at predawn, the USS PARCHEE launched a l)eril()us surlace attack . . . scored a killing hit as a cli- max to lortysix minutes ot violent action, retiring ini- scatlied with a record of four Japanese ships sunk and another severely damaged. Fighting superbly agiinst all odds, the PARCHEE. hy her stout-hearted service has implemented the alor and gallantry of her skilled ol- licers and men. Ihrougl.out t he remaining months ol the war he ser ed as Personnel Officer for CoinmaTuler Submarines, Pacilic Fleet which was followed by a year as Cojnman- clcr Submarine Division 52. In August 1917 he went to W.ishington as C:hiel, Surlace Objective Section in the Ollice ol the Assisi.int Chief of Naval Operations {Guided Missiles). Following this duty and six months at the . i Died Forces Stall College he served as Readiness and New I )c- elopmenis Ollicer on the staff of Com- nKuuler .Suhm.irines, Atlantic and followed this duty as Comnunider Sidjmarine Squadron SIX and Command- ing Ollicer ol the USS RANKIN (AKA-103). Following a comse of instruction at the Na al War College, he assumed duty as Chief of Stall and , ide to ihe Commander, Submaiine F jrce, U. S. Atlanlic Fleet. lours in Washington were next, as Special Assistant to the tJiiel ol Na -.d Oj:)erations and as Director, Surface Ivpe War l.ne Disision, Ollice of the Chief of Naval Oper.itioiis. On 2 September 1958 he assinned command ol Cruiser Division TWO, Cruiser Force, U. S. . tlantic Fleet. In addition to the Medal of Honor, the A ' (, ' v Cross with Gold Star, the .S 7i ' ( ' ) Star Medal. Bronze Star Medal, Cam inendatioii Ribbon, and the Presidential Unit Cita- tion Ribbon Willi two stars (USS TROUT and USS I ' AliCHE). Rear . dmiral R.unage has the American Defense Seri iee Medal, Elect Clasp, The American Cam- paign Medal the Asiatic-Pacilic Caiiipiii ' n Medal with engagement stars, the ]Yorld War II J ' ictoi Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Philippine Lib- eration Ribbon. Rear . clmiral Ramage is married to the former Barbar.i Alice Pine ol Ne ' London, Connecticut and is the l.itliei (il two sons and t vo daughters. His official adcliess is New London, Coiniecticut.

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T COMMANDER CRUISER DIVISION TWO

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THOMAS D. CUNNINGHAM CAPTAIN, U. S. NAVY CHIEF OF STAFF - CRUISER DIVISION TWO