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The story
of the deeds of heroism performed
by men of the navy in this war will
glow with a light that never was
on sea or land. Men who live valiantly
and die nobly have a strength and
a courage from the eternal Father.
Two of these young heroes have recently
received high honor. One a graduate
of Annapolis, the other an enlisted
man. There is no rank in sacrifice.
Many years ago when the first destroyers
were built, they were given the
names of John Paul Jones and Perry
and Farragut and Decatur. All illustrious
names, not born to die. The custom
is continued. Two of the latest
destroyers were named Cork and Ingram.
The torpedoing
of the Jacob Jones gave us more
than one naval hero, some of them
spared for future achievement. He
was game to the last, was the report
of the spirit of Lieutenant F. S.
Cork. During the early part of the
evening, in a weakened condition,
this gallant young officer swam
through the chilly waters, from
one raft to another, in his effort
to distribute the weight and make
safe the men who had found rescue.
Young, without fame, in the hour
of dire peril he thought not of
himself, but of others. We have
given Corky the distinction that
goes alone to those who put devotion
to duty above love of life. The
destroyer Cork, like the useful
hero for whom it is named, will
be game to the last.
The deed
of Osmond J. Ingram ranks with those
that gives splendor to our humanity.
He was gunners-mate on the intrepid
[Cassin]. When the captain, searching
for submarines, spied one, he started
full speed ahead toward the enemy.
Suddenly he cited a torpedo about
four hundred yards away. Realizing
the situation, the crew captain
rang for emergency speed on both
engines. In that critical moment
an enlisted man of the Navy rose
to the heroic demand of the peril.
Seeing the torpedo coming toward
the stern of the ship where the
gun was located, Gunner Ingram,
with rare presence of mind, realized
the danger if the weapon struck
where the ammunition was stored.
He speedily ran aft and threw the
ammunition into the sea before the
torpedo struck. He saved the [Cassin]
and the lives of his shipmates.
He lost his own life. He was the
only man who did not answer to the
roll call of the ship, but he answered
to the roll call of the immortal,
and soon a destroyer bearing his
name will proudly sail the seas.
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