LAWSON PETERSON RAMAGE
The death of “Red” Ramage, a winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II, marks a sad occasion for all submariners who have respected and admired the proven greatness of this gallant warrior.
Admiral Ramage’s obituary in the Washington Post describes the circumstances leading to his Medal of Honor award:
“As commander of the submarine PARCHE on July 31, 1944, he penetrated the screen of a heavily escorted enemy convoy, then engaged the Japanese in 46 minutes of surface combal operations, during which he sank two troop transports and two ttmkers and seriously damaged a freighter — with 15 torpedo hils out of the 19 fired. At one point with enemy shells passing close overhead, he sent all topside men below but he remained on his submarine’s bridge. When an enemy transport tried to ram the PARCHE, he swung her stern dear of the onrushing ship and although caught in the enemy’s crossfue, sank her with four torpedoes …
Red Ramage was for many years a member of the Board of Directors of the Naval Submarine League. His warm, friendly persona and paternal regard for his cohorts will be sorely missed by the submarine community.
