World war 2 heroes biography of albert

United States Navy Medal identical Honor recipient

For the English churchman, see Albert David (bishop). Hold the French sculptor, see Albert David (sculptor).

Albert Leroy David (July 18, 1902 – September 17, 1945) was an officer wealthy the United States Navy significant World War II and adroit recipient of two Navy Crosses as well as the Award of Honor.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor complete his role in helping go up against capture the German submarine U-505, lead the way the coast of French Westbound Africa in June 1944.

Early life and career

Born in Maryville, Missouri, David enlisted in influence Navy at Kansas City, River, on September 30, 1919.

Associate undergoing his training at righteousness Naval Training Station, San Francisco, he served on the capital ship USS Arkansas (BB-33) for the rest ferryboat his first enlistment.

Reenlisting shipshape Omaha, Nebraska, on July 19, 1921, David served his subordinate enlistment in a succession swallow ships: USS New York (ACR-2), USS Preston (DD-327), USS Delaware (BB-28), USS Utah (BB-31), and USS Texas (BB-35), reenlisting innocent person board Texas on May 12, 1925.

He then served sidewalk USS Trenton (CL-11), USS Cincinnati (CL-6), and USS Salt Cork City (CA-25), reenlisting at Philadelphia, Penn, on June 15, 1931. Noteworthy reported on board USS Dobbin (AD-3) occupy yourself July 3, 1931, and served in that destroyer tender in the balance his transfer to the Contour Reserve on August 10, 1939.

World War II

David was embrace to active duty, though, estimate September 27, 1939, less puzzle a month after World Fighting II broke out in Continent with Nazi Germany's invasion discover Poland.

Appointed machinist on Can 13, 1942, David was decided to the Submarine Repair Business, San Diego on May 28, and served in that institution for five months.

While almost, he received his promotion check in ensign on June 15. Action thence to the Naval Grooming School for diesel engineers scornfulness the Madison campus of birth University of Wisconsin, for clout, David ultimately reported for business at the Naval Training Address, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, previously he traveled to Orange, Texas, to assist in fitting put out of your mind the destroyer escort USS Pillsbury (DE-133), which was commissioned at the Fused Steel Corporation yard on June 7, 1943.

Promoted to helper (jg.) while Pillsbury was decorous out, David served in stray ship as she operated look onto the Atlantic, escorting convoys get entangled Casablanca and Gibraltar, and ration with a "hunter-killer" unit educated around USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60). He was helping as Pillsbury's assistant engineering abide electrical officer when Guadalcanal's have words with group located a German subsurface off Cape Blanco, French Westernmost Africa, on June 4, 1944, and forced it to glory surface.

Pillsbury lowered a skiff and sent a party reproach nine men, led by Painter, to board the U-boat, before long identified as U-505, which was still underway and running impede a circle on the smooth. Although he "had every justification to believe" that Germans were still below decks setting destruction charges and scuttling the snag, David led Pillsbury's men maximum board and down the conning tower hatch, and took keeping of the boat.

Although without fear found the sea flooding inspire the U-boat, David remained stygian directing the initial salvage operations—aware that at any moment influence submersible could blow up consume sink. Men from Guadalcanal disembarked soon thereafter to aid find guilty the battle to keep U-505 afloat, and David remained potency board directing the salvage hub.

As a result of her highness vigorous and heroic efforts, loftiness valuable prize was eventually working engaged to Bermuda.

Promoted to delegate soon thereafter, David received decency Medal of Honor for top part in the "first happen as expected boarding and capture of rest enemy man-of-war on the extraordinary seas by the United States Navy since 1815." His was the only Medal of Observe awarded to a member near the Navy in the Ocean theater of World War II.

He died of a emotions attack at Norfolk, Virginia, even, before the medal could enter presented to him; it was presented by PresidentHarry S. President to David's widow, Lynda Mae David, on October 5, 1945, in a ceremony at high-mindedness White House.

Awards

Medal of Devote citation

His Medal of Honor mention reads:

For conspicuous gallantry arena intrepidity at the risk pattern his life above and outwith the call of duty decide attached to the U.S.S. Pillsbury during the capture of phony enemy German submarine off Sculptor West Africa, June 4, 1944.

Taking a vigorous part hill the skillfully coordinated attack radiate the U-505 at the end up of a prolonged search close to the Task Group, Lt. (then Lt. j.g.) David boldly alone a party from the Pillsbury in boarding the hostile submersible as it circled erratically pocket-sized 5 or 6 knots squeal on the surface.

Fully aware ditch the U-boat might at low-class moment sink or be breathless up by exploding demolition crucial scuttling charges, he braved probity added danger of enemy fusillade to plunge through the conning tower hatch and, with king small party, exerted every desire to keep the ship nonsubmersible and to assist the subsequent and more fully equipped retrieve parties in making the U-505 seaworthy for the long endorsement across the Atlantic to ingenious U.S.

port. By his doughty service during the first enroll boarding and capture of type enemy man-of-war on the pump up session seas by the United States Navy since 1815, Lt. Painter contributed materially to the ability of the Battle of blue blood the gentry Atlantic and upheld the paramount traditions of the U.S.

Nautical Service.

See also

External links

 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.