Martin H. Ray, Jr.

Martin H. Ray, Jr., was born 9 August 1913, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and educated in Yonkers, New York. After one year at New York University he entered the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1934.

Navy career
Following five years service on battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), he received orders to USS Hammann (DD-412) in 1939.

Awarded the Navy Cross
While assisting the stricken USS Yorktown (CV-5) in the last stages of the Battle of Midway, 6 June 1942, Hammann took a torpedo. Lieutenant Ray as engineering officer was lost attempting to save the rapidly sinking vessel and evacuate the space below decks. The Navy Cross was awarded “For extraordinary heroism and extreme disregard of personal safety....”

Namesake
USS Martin H. Ray (DE-338) was named in his honor. The ship was laid down 27 October 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas; launched 23 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. M. H. Ray, Jr., widow of Lt. Ray, and commissioned 28 February 1944, Lt. H. V. Tucker, Jr., in command.