John Porter Gray

Lieutenant Junior Grade, United States Naval Reserve

Navy Cross

John P. Gray or Jack as he was know was the only son of Roy Cecil and Ella (Minter) Gray who married 12 Jun 1912 in Keytesville, Chariton, MO. His two other siblings were Harriet Ann Gray Brown (she became a professional dancer and Choreographer) and Elizabeth Hester "Betty" Grey Robey.

Jack grew up in Joplin, MO and attended Huntsville High School where he graduated in 1933. After high school, Jack attended Westminster College at Fulton, MO where he graduated in May 1937. After college, he worked in the offices of Swift & Co. in St. Louis for a year and a half. Feeling the urge for adventure Jack made a trip to Alaska prior to enlisting in the Navy.

John Porter Gray enlisted as a Seaman 2/c in the United States Naval Reserve Flight Training Program (AV-N) V-5 on 12 October 1939 probably in Kansas City, MO. He completed his elimination flight training and was subsequently discharged from active duty. He was sent home to await further orders. In late January 1940, he was called back to active service, and was discharged to accept an appointment as an Aviation Cadet (AVCAD) on 12 Feb 1940. He began flight training under instruction at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, FL.

After five months of intensive training AVCAD Gray detached from NAS Pensacola and transferred to NAS Miami for advanced training. He earned his naval aviator designation about August 1940. He returned to NAS Pensacola where he received a commission as an Ensign, USNR (AV-N) on 20 Sept 1940 with a date of rank of 10 Sep 1940. After receiving his commission, Ensign Gray was detached from Pensacola and reported to the Fleet Air Detachment, San Diego for further operational training specific to pilots assigned to carrier based duty. Gray was detached from his training duty and transferred to Torpedo Squadron Two (VT-2) embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2) in October 1940.

Lexington departed Pearl Harbor on 05 Dec 1941 on a mission to ferry aircraft to the US Marine Squadron, VMSB-231, on Midway. That mission was cancelled shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. For the next month, Lexington participated on various missions around the eastern Pacific until late January 1942 when she was ordered to conduct a diversionary attack on Wake Island. That mission was cancelled. In early Feb, Lexington was ordered to the Coral Sea to rendezvous with an ANZAC squadron to prevent Japanese advances in that region. On 10 Mar 1942, Lexington in company with the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) successfully launched attacks against Japanese air and surface units invading Papua, New Guinea.

Lexington and Yorktown returned to Pearl Harbor on 26 Mar where Lexington was given a short refit. On 15 April, Lexington was underway again. It was also the day that Ensign Gray was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, junior grade. On 18 April, Task Force 11 which included Lexington, was ordered to rendezvous with Task Force 17, which included USS Yorktown (CV5), north of New Caledonia on 01 May 1942. The battle of the Coral Sea began on the morning of 07 May resulting in fatal damage to the Japanese carrier Shoho which sank about 11:30 AM. The following morning Japanese forces counterattacked against the Yorktown and Lexington groups. Lexington was hit by bombs and torpedoes. She had to be scuttled and sank later that day. After the Lexington was sunk, some of her squadron personnel were transferred to fill needed replacements in other squadrons. Ens. Gray was on those those transferred. He reported for temporary duty in May with Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) on board the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8).

Late in May 1942, a large Japanese carrier striking force steamed toward the Midway Atoll bend on adding it to their string of conquests. On 28 May, the Hornet, along with carriers Yorktown and Enterprise, steamed from Pearl Harbor to "Point Luck" where they would wait in ambush and attempt to destroy the Japanese force.

Early in the morning of 4 Jun 1942, Hornet launched her air group of 59 planes to attack the Japanese carriers. Led in the wrong direction (West versus Southwest) by the Air Group leader, Cdr Stanhope Ring, the flight became known as "The Flight To Nowhere." VT-8 was the only Hornet Air squadron to find the enemy carriers after breaking away from HAG-8. Sighting the enemy and without fighter protection, the 15 planes of the squadron pressed their attack through an onslaught of enemy fighter and anti-aircraft fire. One by one, the torpedo planes were sent hurtling into the sea. All 15 aircraft were shot down with the loss of 29 of the 30 aircrew.

Ltjg Gray and his gunner/radioman, ARM2 Max Calkins did not return. Their remains were unrecoverable. According to the Hornet's after action report dated 13 Jun 1942 they were listed as "missing in action." In that report Rear Admiral (Select) Mitscher, Hornet CO, nominated each member of Torpedo Eight who flew into battle on 4 Jun 1942 for the Congressional Medal of Honor. Ltjg Gray was presumed dead on 5 Jun 1943.

Jack was awarded (posthumously) the Navy Cross, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation ribbon, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze star and the World War II Victory Medal. He had been awarded the Air Medal for previous meritorious achievement while participating in aerial combat related to duty on board the Lexington and VT-2.

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Navy Cross Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to John Porter Gray, Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT, embarked from the U.S.S. HORNET, during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Grimly aware of the hazardous consequences of flying without fighter protection, and with insufficient fuel to return to his carrier, Ensign Gray resolutely, and with no thought of his own life, delivered an effective torpedo attack against violent assaults of enemy Japanese aircraft fire. His courageous action, carried out with a gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and a conscientious devotion to the fulfillment of his mission, was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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The President of the United States awards the Presidential Unit Citation to Navy Torpedo Squadron Eight. It reads: For extremely heroic and courageous performance in combat during the Air Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942. Flying low without fighter support, Torpedo Squadron EIGHT began the perilous mission, Intercept and attack! First to sight the enemy, the squadron attacked with full striking power against crushing enemy opposition, scoring torpedo hits on Japanese forces. Realizing to a man that insufficient fuel would prevent a return to the carrier, the pilots held doggedly to the target, dropping torpedoes at point-blank range in the face of blasting antiaircraft fire that sent the planes one by one, hurtling aflame in the sea. The loss of 29 lives, typifying valor, loyalty, and determination, was the price paid for Torpedo Squadron EIGHTs vital contribution to the eventual success of our forces in this epic battle of the air.

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His family also received a commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads: In grateful memory of John Porter Gray, who died in the service of his country, SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. HORNET, 5 JUNE 1943 (Presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States of America

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The US Navy destroyer escort USS John P Gray (DE-673) was named in his honor. She was converted during construction into the high-speed transport and reclassified USS John P Gray (APD-74) on 27 Jun 1944. Commissioned at the Consolidated Shipbuilding Company, Orange, TX on 15 March 1945. Sponsor: Mrs Roy C. Gray, mother of Ltjg John P. Gray. Decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, FL on 29 April 1946 and stricken from the Navy Ship Register on 01 March 1967. Sold for scrap on 3 Sept 1968.

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St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO.) – 16 July 1942 – p. 21

Mother of Torpedo Plane Hero Lives in Columbia

“He Was Doing What He Always Wanted To Do,” She Say (sic) of Ensign Gray, Lost In Action.

Columbia, Mo., July 16. – Ensign John Porter Gray of Columbia was a member of the Navy’s Eighth Squadron credited with making possible the victory at Midway Isle and as did 29 of the 30 members of the squadron, he gave his life as the first attack was launched against the Japanese fleet. Ensign Gray’s mother, Mrs. Roy C. Gray of Columbia, was informed several weeks ago that her son was “lost in action” and since that time has received letters of sympathy and commendation for her son’s valor from Secretary Frank Knox, commanders of two aircraft carriers on which her son served, as well as from several officers and men stationed on the ships. He was described by his mother as “adventurous,” and she said he elected to become a torpedo plane flyer at Pensacola, although he knew the planes were slow, difficult to maneuver and needed protection of lighter planes when engaged in battle. “He was doing what he always wanted to do,” Mrs. Gray said. Because of previous errors the Navy has made in listing casualties, Mrs. Gray clung to the hope that another mistake had been made for several weeks after she received notification, but she said today she has about given up hope. She described her son as two inches over six feet tall, well built, dark and handsome. Until May, Ensign Gray was stationed on a carrier operating out of Los Angeles but was transferred to another which was based in the Hawaiian Islands. He was not aboard the carrier Yorktown, which was put out of action, however. Ensign Gray was reared at Joplin, Mo., and attended Huntsville High School after his mother removed to Randolph County. He was graduated in 1937 from Westminster College at Fulton and worked for 18 months in the offices of Swift & Co. in St. Louis immediately after completing his college work. He then made a trip to Alaska prior to enlisting in the Navy and had been on duty with the fleet after receiving his commission on Sept 20, 1940.

Mrs. Gray said that she was certain her son, attached to a naval task force, had participated in the battles of Wake, Marshall and Gilbert Islands, but she did not think he participated in the Coral Sea victory. She said that a promotion to Lieutenant was in the mail at the time of the Midway Island battle in which he was lost.

A friend, Miss Margaret Grady* of Newport, R.I., whom he met at San Diego while she was visiting a brother – in – law, who is a Lieutenant Commander, is in Columbia as a guest of Mrs. Gray. His mother is a supervisor in the Missouri Agricultural Adjustments Administration office here.

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Moberly Monitor-Index (Moberly, MO) – 14 Jan 1943, Thu – p. 6

Mr. and Mrs. John Waller Burton of St Louis are parents of a son born Sunday morning at 4 o’clock, according to a message received by Mr. Burton’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Burton. The baby has been named John Porter Burton after John Porter (Jack) Gray, a friend and schoolmate of Mr. Burton’s who was lost in action in the Battle of Midway.

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* Compiler's note: Margaret was the daughter of Chief Torpedoman, USN (ret.) Thomas and Mary N McLaughlin Grady of Newport, RI. Margaret was the youngest of four daughters; Grace A., Ernestine G., Mary E., and Margaret A. Grady. Margaret had gone to San Diego to visit her sister Grace and her husband Lcdr Victor H Soucek, a navy pilot. Grace and Victor are now buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Margaret Agnes Grady married Robert J. Shinners of Poughkeepsie, NY on 19 May 1944 in Newport, RI. Robert died on 9 Mar 2011 in Newport, RI.

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Note:

[None of the flight crews were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon (CR). See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST 1650.1H of Aug 22, 2006, Chapter 2, Section 3, p2-34). It reads in part, “The CR will not be awarded to personnel for Aerial Combat, . . . “]

[Bio compiled by Gerry Lawton (GML470)]