LAWRENCE J. MCPEAKE, CDR, USN
Lawrence McPeake '24
Lucky Bag
From the 1924 Lucky Bag:
Loss
Lawrence was lost on March 1, 1942 when USS Pecos (AO 6) was sunk by Japanese air attack.
From Wikipedia:
Executive Officer Lt. Commander Lawrence J. McPeake (Annapolis Class of 1924-Posthumously promoted to Commander after the war) was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for valor for his actions aboard Pecos. After the order to abandon ship was given by the ship's Captain, … Lt. Commander McPeake was seen engaging Japanese warplanes (Aichi D3A1 "Val" dive bombers) which were machine-gunning and strafing survivors in the sea. By some crewmembers' accounts, he was reported to have made it off of the ship after it went down. Others reported him last being seen manning the machine gun. In fact, he did swim away from the vessel as it was going down with one other officer from the crew. However, his body was never recovered and he was eventually listed as Killed In Action after the War. A bridge in Milton, Massachusetts was named in honor of him.
His wife was listed as next of kin. He has a memory marker in Massachusetts.
Lawrence is listed on the Boston College Veterans Memorial; he was a member of the class of 1923 there.
Career
He had earlier been a member of the Harvard faculty.
Silver Star
Unable to find a citation for the Silver Star he was posthumously awarded.
Memorial Hall Error
Multiple listings—including his headstone—have him as a CDR; Memorial Hall has LCDR. (The Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1945 has LCDR; unable to find the 1946 edition of this document.)
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
July 1924
Ensign, USS Utah
Others at this command: ENS Elbert Palmer, Jr. '24 and ENS Richard Baron '24.
September 1924
Ensign, USS Utah
Others at this command: ENS Elbert Palmer, Jr. '24 and ENS Richard Baron '24.
November 1924
Ensign, USS Utah
January 1925
Ensign, USS Utah
March 1925
Ensign, USS Utah
May 1925
Ensign, under instruction, Edgewood Arsenal
July 1925
Ensign, USS Childs
October 1925
Ensign, USS Childs
January 1926
Ensign, under instruction, Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island
April 1928
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Utah
October 1928
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Utah
Others at this command: ENS Charles Hill, Jr. '27 and ENS James Averill '27.
January 1929
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command: LT Edwin Conway '20, LT Frederick Roberts '20, LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20, LT Francis Bridget '21, LT James Carney '21, LT John Jones '21, LT Stephen Cooke '21, LT James Craig '22, LTjg William Davis '22, LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24, LTjg Creighton Lankford '25, LTjg Hubert Waters '25, LTjg Jack DeShazo '25, ENS Claude Haman '26, ENS Francis Black '26, ENS Henry G'Sell '26, ENS John Graff '26, 2LT Joseph Wolfe '26, 2LT Lofton Henderson '26, ENS William Watson '26, ENS Eugene Lindsey '27, 2LT Guy Chappell '27, ENS Leonard Southerland '27, and 2LT Raymond Rutledge '27.
April 1929
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Cleveland
July 1929
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Cleveland
October 1929
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Cleveland
January 1930
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Pensacola
April 1930
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Pensacola
Others at this command: 1LT Stuart King '20 and ENS Edwin Martin '29.
July 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Academy
Others at this command: CDR James Logan '10, LCDR Robert English '11, LT Joseph Severyns, Jr. '20, LT Paul Slawson '20, LT Robert Smith '20, LT Samuel Arthur '20, LT John Jones '21, LT John French '22, LT John Welch '23, LTjg Louis Drexler, Jr. '23, LTjg William Hobby, Jr. '23, LTjg Hubert Hayter '24, LTjg Max Stormes '24, LTjg Neville McDowell '24, LTjg William France '24, LTjg Elmer Buerkle '25, LTjg Fremont Wright '25, LTjg Harry Hubbard '25, ENS Claud Hughes '30, ENS Harrington Drake '31, ENS Lorenz Forbes '31, and ENS Vernon Hain '31.
Others at or embarked at this command: 1LT Charles Kail '23 (Marine Barracks, Naval Academy).
October 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Academy
Others at this command: CDR James Logan '10, CDR Robert English '11, LT Paul Slawson '20, LT Robert Smith '20, LT Samuel Arthur '20, LT John Welch '23, LTjg Louis Drexler, Jr. '23, LTjg William Hobby, Jr. '23, LTjg Hubert Hayter '24, LTjg Max Stormes '24, LTjg Neville McDowell '24, LTjg Elmer Buerkle '25, LTjg Fremont Wright '25, LTjg Harry Hubbard '25, and ENS Claud Hughes '30.
Others at or embarked at this command: 1LT Charles Kail '23 (Marine Barracks, Naval Academy).
January 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Academy
Others at this command: CDR James Logan '10, CDR Robert English '11, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Paul Slawson '20, LT Robert Smith '20, LT Samuel Arthur '20, LT John Welch '23, LTjg Louis Drexler, Jr. '23, LTjg William Hobby, Jr. '23, LTjg Hubert Hayter '24, LTjg Max Stormes '24, LTjg Neville McDowell '24, LTjg Elmer Buerkle '25, LTjg Fremont Wright '25, LTjg Harry Hubbard '25, ENS Claud Hughes '30, and ENS Albert Gray '31.
Others at or embarked at this command: 1LT Charles Kail '23 (Marine Barracks, Naval Academy).
April 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Academy
Others at this command: CDR James Logan '10, CDR Robert English '11, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Paul Slawson '20, LT Robert Smith '20, LT Samuel Arthur '20, LT John Welch '23, LT Louis Drexler, Jr. '23, LTjg William Hobby, Jr. '23, LTjg Hubert Hayter '24, LTjg Max Stormes '24, LTjg Neville McDowell '24, LTjg Richard Moss '24, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg Elmer Buerkle '25, LTjg Fremont Wright '25, LTjg Harry Hubbard '25, LTjg Heywood Edwards '26, ENS Claud Hughes '30, ENS Frank Highley, Jr. '30, 2LT Harold Bauer '30, ENS Albert Gray '31, and ENS George MacKenzie, Jr. '31.
October 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT Francis Bridget '21, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT William Hobby, Jr. '23, LTjg Hubert Hayter '24, LTjg Neville McDowell '24, LTjg Andrew Harris '25, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25, LTjg Carlton Hutchins '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Sidney Smith '26, and LTjg Loren Morris '27.
January 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT Francis Bridget '21, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT William Hobby, Jr. '23, LTjg Hubert Hayter '24, LTjg Neville McDowell '24, LTjg Andrew Harris '25, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25, LTjg Carlton Hutchins '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Sidney Smith '26, LTjg Loren Morris '27, and 2LT Harold Bauer '30.
April 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT Francis Bridget '21, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT William Hobby, Jr. '23, LTjg Hubert Hayter '24, LTjg Neville McDowell '24, LTjg Andrew Harris '25, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25, LTjg Carlton Hutchins '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Crane '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Louis Shane, Jr. '26, LTjg Sidney Smith '26, LTjg Loren Morris '27, LTjg William Pye, Jr. '28, and 2LT Harold Bauer '30.
July 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Albert Rooks '14, LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT Howard Healy '22, 1LT Charles Kail '23, LT Hallsted Hopping '24, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg August Lentz, Jr. '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Eugene Karpe '26, LTjg Francis Black '26, LTjg Heywood Edwards '26, LTjg Hilan Ebert '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Crane '26, LTjg John Reybold '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Louis LeHardy '26, LTjg Louis Shane, Jr. '26, LTjg Ralph Smith '26, LTjg Sidney Smith '26, LTjg William Myers '26, LTjg Loren Morris '27, and LTjg William Pye, Jr. '28.
October 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Albert Rooks '14, LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT Howard Healy '22, 1LT Charles Kail '23, LT Hallsted Hopping '24, LTjg Andrew Harris '25, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25, LTjg August Lentz, Jr. '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Eugene Karpe '26, LTjg Francis Black '26, LTjg Heywood Edwards '26, LTjg Hilan Ebert '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Crane '26, LTjg John Reybold '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Louis LeHardy '26, LTjg Louis Shane, Jr. '26, LTjg Ralph Smith '26, LTjg Sidney Smith '26, LTjg William Myers '26, LTjg Loren Morris '27, and LTjg William Pye, Jr. '28.
April 1934
Lieutenant, Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Albert Rooks '14, LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT William Gray '21, LT Howard Healy '22, 1LT Charles Kail '23, LT Hallsted Hopping '24, LTjg Andrew Harris '25, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25, LTjg August Lentz, Jr. '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Eugene Karpe '26, LTjg Francis Black '26, LTjg Heywood Edwards '26, LTjg Hilan Ebert '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Crane '26, LTjg John Reybold '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Louis LeHardy '26, LTjg Louis Shane, Jr. '26, LTjg Ralph Smith '26, LTjg Sidney Smith '26, LTjg William Myers '26, LTjg Harry Hicks '27, LTjg Loren Morris '27, and LTjg William Pye, Jr. '28.
April 1935
Lieutenant, communications officer, USS Whitney
Others at this command: LT Paul Slawson '20.
October 1935
Lieutenant, communications officer, USS Whitney
April 1936
Lieutenant, executive officer, USS Leary
July 1936
Lieutenant, executive officer, USS Leary
January 1937
Lieutenant, executive officer, USS Leary
April 1937
Lieutenant, executive officer, USS Leary
September 1937
Lieutenant, ROTC instructor, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Others at this command: CDR Sherwood Picking '11.
January 1938
Lieutenant, ROTC instructor, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Others at this command: CDR Sherwood Picking '11.
July 1938
Lieutenant, ROTC instructor, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Others at this command: CDR Sherwood Picking '11 and LT Hugh Black '26.
January 1939
Lieutenant, ROTC instructor, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Others at this command: CDR Sherwood Picking '11 and LT Hugh Black '26.
October 1939
Lieutenant Commander, USS Pecos
November 1940
Lieutenant Commander, USS Pecos
Others at this command: LT Raymond Mayo '30 and LTjg Lewis Davis '37.
April 1941
Lieutenant Commander, USS Pecos
Others at this command: LT Raymond Mayo '30 and LTjg Lewis Davis '37.
Class of 1924
Lawrence is one of 42 members of the Class of 1924 on Virtual Memorial Hall.