EDWARD T. GRACE, LCDR, USN

Edward Grace '39

Date of birth: February 25, 1918

Date of death: March 26, 1945

Age: 27

Lucky Bag

From the 1939 Lucky Bag:

EDWARD THOMAS GRACE

Washington, D.C.

Ned

Four years is all too short a time to fully evaluate and appreciate all the aspects of Ned's multilateral character. A strong love of music is not the least of his catholic tastes in arts and letters. As one of Ortland's most promising mermen, Ned has proved himself an athlete, as well as an athlete, of no mean ability. Even with time out for all his outside activities, academics have never been able to daunt this little giant of the fourth platoon. His analytical mind is always quick to reach the core of the most difficult lesson or the most controversial question. Ned's broad viewpoint on life coupled with an ability to make friends everywhere will always keep him where he belongs—on top.

Swimming 4, 3, 2, 1; 1 P.O.

Loss

Edward was lost when USS Halligan (DD 584) struck a mine and sank on March 26, 1945, near Okinawa. Only two of her 21 officers survived.

He was commanding officer; it appears he might have only taken command of the ship sometime in February.

His wife was listed as next of kin.

Silver Star

From Kitsap News on August 4, 1996, remembering August 4th, 1946:

The Silver Star, posthumously awarded to Lt.Cmdr. Edward Grace, was ceremoniously pinned on his 2-year-old daughter's dress yesterday at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Grace, who lived at 1416 Gregory Way, died March 26, 1945, during the assault on Okinawa Gunto, Ryukyu Islands. As the commanding officer of USS Halligan, he maneuvered the destroyer into "withering fire" from Japanese shore batteries, torpedo skiffs, suicide boats and kamikaze planes to shield inbound Marine landing craft, saving perhaps hundreds of American lives before being killed when his ship struck a mine.

Class of 1939

Edward is one of 75 members of the Class of 1939 in Memorial Hall.