Albert Leroy David

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Albert Leroy David

Albert Leroy David (born July 18, 1902 in Maryville , Missouri , † September 17, 1945 in Norfolk , Virginia ) was an American naval officer. He succeeded in the Second World War with the predation of the German submarine U 505 , the first successful Boarding an enemy warship for the US Navy since 1815. For this he was with the Medal of Honor awarded.

Career

Education and Pre-War

In September 1919 David joined the US Navy in Kansas City, Missouri , and received his basic training at a naval school in San Francisco . It was first used on the USS Arkansas . In July 1921 David signed up for the second time in the Navy in Omaha . This time it was used on the warships USS Rochester , USS Preston , USS Delaware , USS Utah and USS Texas . In May 1925, he signed up for the third time on the USS Texas . This time it was used on the USS Trenton , USS Cincinnati, and USS Salt Lake City . On June 15, 1931, he signed up again, this time in Philadelphia, and served on the USS Dobbin until he was assigned to the American reserve fleet in August 1939 .

Second World War

Due to the outbreak of the Second World War, David was called back to active service in September 1939. In May 1942 he was appointed warrant officer and assigned as a machinist to a submarine shipyard in San Diego , before he was promoted to Ensign in June of the same year and trained as a diesel engineer at a naval school attached to the University of Wisconsin . This was followed by a use at the naval base in Norfolk. He was then transferred to Orange, Texas , where he served as an engineer on the USS Pillsbury . In May 1943, he was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade .

Boarding the U 505

Albert Leroy David (left in the picture) on the tower of the captured U 505

On June 4, 1944, the submarine U 505 of the German Navy was forced to surface off the coast of West Africa by the association of the USS Guadalcanal , in which the USS Pullsbury was a member , with the help of American fighter planes. The submarine crew left the badly damaged boat. As the leader of a nine-member prize squad , David crossed over to the submarine, which had already had a water ingress and insisted on the risk of explosion. It was not only possible to capture an Enigma with its code books and other secret documents, but also to make the submarine so clear that the boat could later be towed to a US naval base in Bermuda . This capture of an enemy ship was the first for the US Navy since 1815.

Further career and death

In July 1944, he was promoted to lieutenant .

On September 17, 1945, David died of a heart attack. He was buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.

Awards

Medal of Honor in execution for members of the US Navy

For conquering the U 505 , David was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor , the highest military award of the American government. On October 5, 1945, his widow accepted the medal for him from American President Harry S. Truman . It was the only Medal of Honor awarded to a soldier in the Battle of the Atlantic . The frigate USS Albert David , which served the US Navy between 1968 and 2001, was named after him in his honor. Other awards:

Web links

Commons : Albert Leroy David  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME David, Albert Leroy
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American naval officer and Medal of Honor holder
DATE OF BIRTH July 18, 1902
PLACE OF BIRTH Maryville , Missouri
DATE OF DEATH September 17, 1945
Place of death Norfolk , Virginia