Lawson Paterson Ramage "Red"

In the darkness before dawn on 31 July 1944, Commander Lawson Paterson “Red” Ramage drove USS Parche directly into the heart of a Japanese convoy and fought a surface battle at point-blank range. For 46 violent minutes, with enemy gunfire crossing over his submarine and one ship attempting to ram him, Ramage remained on the bridge and kept attacking. That extraordinary fight made him one of the most celebrated American submariners of the Second World War and earned him the Medal of Honor. Lawson Paterson Ramage was born on 19 January 1909 at Monroe Bridge, Massachusetts. He entered the United States Naval Academy and graduated with the Class of 1931. A wrestling injury had damaged his right eye and initially threatened his ambition to become a submariner, but Ramage eventually qualified for submarine duty and reported to USS S-29 in 1936. By March 1941 he was serving on the staff of Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, where he was present when Japan attacked on 7 December 1941. His combat reputation began aboard USS Grenadier (SS-210). Serving as navigator during a war patrol from 12 April to 10 June 1942, Ramage demonstrated what his Silver Star citation described as conspicuous gallantry and exceptional skill. The citation credited him with providing vital assistance during attacks that sank two enemy ships totaling 24,000 tons and with helping Grenadier evade Japanese countermeasures. It praised his leadership, courage and devotion to duty as being in the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. In June 1942, Ramage took command of USS Trout (SS-202). During Trout's fifth, sixth and seventh war patrols, from 27 August 1942 to 25 February 1943, he operated in heavily contested Pacific waters and repeatedly maneuvered the submarine into attacking positions against Japanese shipping. His first Navy Cross citation praised his tactical knowledge, sound judgment and aggressive handling of the submarine, crediting his leadership with the successful completion of hazardous missions against a determined enemy. During this period, Ramage also became the first American submarine commander to score a torpedo hit on a Japanese aircraft carrier, striking the escort carrier Taiyo near Truk in September 1942. Ramage's legend was secured after he assumed command of the new Balao-class submarine USS Parche (SS-384). On Parche's first war patrol, from 29 March to 23 May 1944, he repeatedly penetrated Japanese escort screens in the Luzon Strait despite aircraft and surface protection. His second Navy Cross citation credited his aggressive torpedo attacks with sinking four enemy ships totaling more than 30,000 tons under the wartime assessment used for the award. Even after strong enemy counterattacks, Ramage successfully brought Parche back to port. The citation described his conduct as an inspiration to his officers and men. Then came the action that defined his career. Before dawn on 31 July 1944, Parche and USS Steelhead attacked a heavily escorted Japanese convoy south of Formosa. Ramage took Parche onto the surface and drove into the formation, firing torpedoes from both bow and stern tubes while Japanese ships returned fire. When the incoming fire became dangerously intense, he ordered most of the bridge personnel below and continued directing the attack. At one point an enemy transport attempted to ram Parche. Ramage swung his submarine across its bow and cleared it by less than 50 feet before firing three bow torpedoes directly at the approaching ship. His Medal of Honor citation recognized his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity” and emphasized his willingness to remain exposed while directing the attack under intense shellfire. After 46 minutes of close combat, Parche withdrew without damage. Ramage was formally presented the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 10 January 1945. identifies him as the first U.S. submarine officer of World War II to receive the Medal of Honor in a non-posthumous award. Ramage never treated the Medal of Honor as his achievement alone. After receiving it, he prepared a certificate for the men of Parche explaining that he regarded the medal as the nation's tribute to the submarine and its crew, and that every officer and sailor whose work contributed to the victory shared in the honor. That gesture captured a defining feature of Ramage's leadership: even after one of the most audacious submarine attacks of the Pacific War, he placed the accomplishment of the crew ahead of personal glory. His wartime service brought further recognition, including the Bronze Star Medal and Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” while USS Parche received the Presidential Unit Citation for its combat record. records that Ramage's submarine career ultimately included a Silver Star, two Navy Cross awards, the Bronze Star and, above all, the Medal of Honor. The war did not mark the end of Ramage's influence on the Navy. He continued through a succession of increasingly important commands and staff positions. He commanded Submarine Squadron Six, later served at sea aboard USS Rankin, and was promoted to rear admiral in 1956. As Deputy Commander of Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet, he directed the search following the loss of USS Thresher in 1963. He subsequently rose to vice admiral and held senior operational appointments that included Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Operations and Readiness, Commander First Fleet, and Deputy Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. As Commander First Fleet from July 1964 to July 1966, Ramage faced the rapidly expanding American commitment in Southeast Asia. His first Navy Distinguished Service Medal citation praised his leadership, judgment and foresight in improving fleet readiness, training deploying units under realistic conditions and incorporating combat lessons from Southeast Asia into new tactics and equipment requirements. The citation credited his professional knowledge and tireless devotion to duty with making an important contribution to the Pacific Fleet's mission. In March 1967, Ramage became Commander of the Military Sea Transportation Service, placing him at the center of the immense logistics effort required to sustain American forces in Vietnam. Under his leadership, the sealift organization moved ammunition, fuel, weapons, food and other essential supplies across the Pacific while introducing more efficient shipping practices and making extensive use of containerized cargo. The Navy recognized this final period of high responsibility with a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal. Ramage retired from active naval service on 1 April 1970. Vice Admiral Lawson Paterson “Red” Ramage died on 15 April 1990 at the age of 81. His name, however, remained part of the fleet he had served for nearly four decades. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG-61) was named in his honor, ensuring that the legacy of one of America's most daring World War II submarine commanders would continue at sea. From navigator aboard Grenadier, to combat commander of Trout and Parche, to vice admiral responsible for an enormous Vietnam-era sealift operation, Lawson “Red” Ramage built a career around courage under pressure and leadership when the consequences were greatest. His Medal of Honor action lasted only 46 minutes, but it became one of the defining episodes in the history of the United States submarine force. Research note for your publication: I have incorporated the substance of every individual award citation I could verify from authoritative or citation-level sources, including the Medal of Honor, both Navy Cross awards, the Silver Star and the first Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The second Distinguished Service Medal is confirmed by the . I deliberately did not invent citation wording for the Bronze Star or Navy Commendation Medal because I have not found their complete original citation texts in a sufficiently authoritative accessible source.