Daspit, Lawrence Randall "Dan"
- Date of birth:
- October 18th, 1905 (Houma/Louisiana, United States)
- Date of death:
- May 31st, 1979
- Buried on:
- Arlington National Cemetery
Plot: 3. Grave: 4466. - Nationality:
- American
Biography
Lawrence Daspit sailed numerous submarine (Gato and Balao class, diesel electric, fleet boats) war patrols in the Pacific, primarily against Japanese naval combatants and merchant vessels. USS Tinosa, SS-283, was distinguished by Captain Daspit's calculated and aggressive pursuit of the enemy. While on the Tinosa's fourth war patrol, he relentlessly studied problems with torpedo effectiveness while under battle conditions by making various approaches on targets and documenting his preparation for each shot and the results. When he returned from patrol to Pearl Harbor he made a vigorous presentation to Admiral Lockwood and subsequently the Navy Bureau of Ordinance to isolate the torpedo problems and make corrective action. As result he was awarded the Navy Cross and received accelerated promotions to full Captain and then Admiral. He recommended others of his crew for medals/recognition in support of his pressing modifications to torpedos.
Promotions:
1927: Ensign;
1932(?): Lieutenant (junior grade);
1938(?): Lieutenant.
Career:
1927: Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland;
January 1929: U.S.S. New York;
July 1929: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida;
1932: U.S.S. Childs;
1934: U.S.S. S-20;
1937: University of California, Berkeley, California;
1938: U.S.S. Pike;
15th January 1943 - December 1943: Commanding Officer U.S.S. Tinosa (SS-283);
30th August 1952 - 22nd July 1953: Commanding Officer U.S.S. Los Angeles (CA-135);
1960: Commander Submarines Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT);
16th July 1965 - 31st October 1967: Commanding Officer Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia.
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Navy Cross
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Commander
- Unit:
- U.S.S. Tinosa (SS-283), U.S. Navy
- Awarded on:
- September 1944
"For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TINOSA (SS-238), during a War Patrol of that submarine in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific Theater of Operations. Commander Daspit courageously and skillfully maneuvered his vessel into position from which to strike the enemy, and aggressively attacked in the face of heavy and persistent enemy countermeasures, sinking enemy vessels totaling over 18,000 tons, and damaging an additional 7,000 tons. Although severely depth-charged, he handled his ship expertly and avoided severe counter-measures, and brought her to port without serious injury to ship or crew. His actions and conduct throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 330 (September 1944).
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Rank:
- Captain
- Unit:
- U.S.S. Los Angeles (CA-135), U.S. Navy
Combat "V"
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
1 service star
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
- Period:
- Korean War (1950-1953)
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
- Period:
- Korean War (1950-1953)
Sources
- Photo 1: Bill Gonyo
- - Sterner C.D., Recipients of The Navy Cross, 1916 - Present
- Verbal recounts of Electricians Mate Vernon Everett Linth
- Home of Heroes
- U-boat net
- Navy Directory, Officer of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, July 1, 1927
- Navy Directory, Officer of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1929
- Navy Directory, Officer of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, July 1, 1929
- Navy Directory, Officer of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1932
- Navy Directory, Officer of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, April 1, 1934
- Navy Directory, Officer of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, April 1, 1937
- Navy Directory, Officer of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1938
- Valor Awards
- U.S. Navy Records Search & Veteran Locator | TWS
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