I have been learning about the people who served in the World Wars, and I wanted to tell you a little bit about Laurence Allen Abercrombie.
He was born on the 11th of October 1897 in Lawrence in Massachusetts. He joined the United States Naval Academy in 1917, during the First World War. He served as a midshipman on board several battleships, before he graduated and got commissioned in 1920.
During the interwar years, Abercrombie served in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, taking on various roles. He spent time in the Asiatic Fleet, taught French at the Naval Academy and even studied in France, he even became a qualified interpreter. By the late 1930s, he had become a skilled officer, serving on board major warships including the USS Arizona.
As the Second World War approached, he was given command of the destroyer USS Drayton in March 1941. When the attack on Pearl Harbor took place on the 7th of December 1941, his ship was at sea so avoided being destroyed Later that month, he led the sinking of an enemy vessel, earning him the Navy Cross, the United States’ second-highest award for bravery.
During the war, he commanded destroyer forces in the Pacific, including actions near the Gilbert Islands and in the Solomon Islands during the Battle of Guadalcanal. His led successful attacks on enemy ships and defence against air assaults, which earned him two additional Navy Cross awards, marked by gold stars.
He went on to work in naval intelligence and with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he commanded the cruiser USS Chester toward the end of the war. Following the conflict, he continued serving in senior administrative roles until retiring on the 30th of June 1951. When he retired, he was promoted to rear admiral, honouring a man who served in both the First and Second World Wars, and with exceptional bravery.
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