Thomas E. Fraser
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edward Fraser was an officer in the United States Navy
.
Born in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, Fraser was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
on 3 September 1920. After graduating on 4 June 1924, he served in for nearly a year and studied torpedo warfare at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island
, before reporting for duty on board on 17 January 1926. He served on that destroyer
until 1 May 1930. Following assignments on and at the New York Navy Yard, Fraser reported on 1 March 1934 for duties in connection with the fitting out of . Assignments to the Philadelphia and Portsmouth Navy Yards followed in the late 1930s.
During 1940 and 1941, he briefly commanded, in turn, destroyers , , and . On 10 November 1941, he became commanding officer of and on 20 August 1942, he was appointed to the temporary rank of commander.
On the night of 14 and 15 November 1942, the USS Walke was a part of Rear Admiral Willis Augustus Lee
's Task Force 64, when it encountered a large Japan
ese force off Savo Island
attempting to bring reinforcements to Guadalcanal
. Acting as the senior commander of the four destroyers of the task force, Commander Fraser boldly led them into action against the numerically superior Japanese force. The torpedoes and heavy gunfire of the Japanese vessels took a devastating toll on the American destroyers and shortly after midnight, Fraser gave the order to abandon the USS Walke. He was lost in the ensuing action and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
for his valor and devotion to duty.
was named for him.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Born in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, Fraser was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
on 3 September 1920. After graduating on 4 June 1924, he served in for nearly a year and studied torpedo warfare at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, before reporting for duty on board on 17 January 1926. He served on that destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
until 1 May 1930. Following assignments on and at the New York Navy Yard, Fraser reported on 1 March 1934 for duties in connection with the fitting out of . Assignments to the Philadelphia and Portsmouth Navy Yards followed in the late 1930s.
During 1940 and 1941, he briefly commanded, in turn, destroyers , , and . On 10 November 1941, he became commanding officer of and on 20 August 1942, he was appointed to the temporary rank of commander.
On the night of 14 and 15 November 1942, the USS Walke was a part of Rear Admiral Willis Augustus Lee
Willis A. Lee
Willis Augustus "Ching" Lee, Jr. was a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. Lee commanded the American ships during the second night of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal and turned back a Japanese invasion force headed for the island...
's Task Force 64, when it encountered a large Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese force off Savo Island
Savo Island
Savo Island is a volcanic island in the Solomon Islands group in the South Pacific ocean. It is located to the northeast of the northern tip of Guadalcanal Island at . Politically, Savo Island is a part of the Solomons' Central Province. The indigenous language of Savo is the Savosavo language.The...
attempting to bring reinforcements to 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...
. Acting as the senior commander of the four destroyers of the task force, Commander Fraser boldly led them into action against the numerically superior Japanese force. The torpedoes and heavy gunfire of the Japanese vessels took a devastating toll on the American destroyers and shortly after midnight, Fraser gave the order to abandon the USS Walke. He was lost in the ensuing action and was posthumously awarded 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 his valor and devotion to duty.
was named for him.