World War I

Pratt became Assistant Surgeon

Surgeon

In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...

 with rank of Lieutenant (junior grade), USNRF, 27 March 1917. He received the Navy Cross

Navy Cross

The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...

 for extraordinary heroism in reestablishing an advanced aid station just demolished by shell-fire in Lucy-le-Bocage

Lucy-le-Bocage

Lucy-le-Bocage is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-References:*...

 11 June 1918, and in continuing to dress and evacuate the wounded under direct and continuous shell-fire at Thiancourt

Thiancourt

Thiancourt is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France.-References:*...

 13 September. He resigned from the Navy 13 October 1919.

World War II

On 2 May 1941 he reported for active duty again with the rank of Lieutenant Commander

Lieutenant Commander

Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...

, MC, USNR

United States Navy Reserve

The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...

. Attached to a Marine Division, he was reported missing in action as of 13 August 1942, when he failed to return from a reconnaissance patrol near the village Mantanikau on Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...

.

Namesake

was named in his honor. She was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Texas

Orange, Texas

Orange is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,643. It is the county seat of Orange County, and is the easternmost city in Texas. Located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, it is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...

, 11 April 1944; launched 1 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Malcolm L. Pratt; and commissioned 18 September 1944, Comdr. Robert H. Wanless in command.