Norman Scott

He led his ships into close combat against hostile warships.

Norman Scott was born in Indianapolis on 10 August 1889. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1907, graduated in 1911 and received his ensign's commission in 1912. Early service in the battleship Idaho was followed by destroyer assignments.

During the First World War, Scott was executive officer of Jacob Jones when a German submarine sank the destroyer in December 1917. He survived and received commendation for his conduct. Further wartime duties included work in the Navy Department and service as a naval aide to President Woodrow Wilson.

His interwar career combined commands at sea with staff and teaching appointments. He instructed at the Naval Academy, commanded the destroyers MacLeish and Paul Jones, attended the Naval War College and served as executive officer of Cincinnati. From 1937 to 1939 he worked with the American naval mission in Brazil. He then commanded the heavy cruiser Pensacola.

Promoted rear admiral in May 1942, Scott went to the South Pacific. He commanded a fire-support group during the Guadalcanal and Tulagi landings in August. As the struggle for the islands intensified, he trained his cruiser-destroyer force for night combat.

On 11-12 October, at Cape Esperance, his force intercepted Japanese warships approaching Guadalcanal. The engagement checked the Japanese operation and brought an important American surface victory. A month later, Scott again entered battle during the naval fighting of 12-13 November.

He was aboard Atlanta when the cruiser suffered devastating damage in the confused close-range action. Scott was killed, aged fifty-three, and was buried at sea. His Medal of Honor recognized his leadership during both the October and November engagements. President Franklin Roosevelt presented the posthumous decoration to his son at the White House in December 1942. Later warships named Scott continued to commemorate his naval service.