Lieutenant Commander, U.S.S. Laffey (DD-459).
On the night of November 12, 1942, while escorting troop and support ships for the landings at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, the convoy was intercepted by ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In the ensuing Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Lt. Cdr. Hank took the fight to a vastly superior
surface fleet, attacking the battleship Hiei, machine-gunning the bridge at near point-blank range, and firing his 5-inch guns and torpedoes at two cruisers and three destroyers, before his destroyer was struck by return fire from Hiei's 14-inch guns and a torpedo strike near the fantail, sinking the Laffey in just minutes. Lt. Cmr. Hank and 57 of his officers and men went down fighting, having inflicted serious damage to the enemy ships.
***
Born at Norfolk, Virginia, Hank graduated from the Naval Academy in 1925. During the years before World War II, he served at various shore stations and in USS New York (CA-2), USS Hull (DD-350), and USS Saratoga (CV-3).
Commissioned Lieutenant Commander in 1940, Hank took control of Laffey (DD-459) 1 April 1942. He received the Navy Cross for his skillful handling of the ship
during the Battle of Cape Esperance. Hank received a second Navy Cross for heroism during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 12–13 November. As Laffey fought the Japanese battleship Hiei she was sunk by large caliber gunfire and a torpedo. Lt. Cmdr. Hank was reported missing and presumed dead 14 November, 1943. His ship received the Presidential Unit Citation.
USS Hank (DD-702) was named for him, and USS Laffey (DD-724) was named for his ship.
Cmdr. Hank is also memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery
On the night of November 12, 1942, while escorting troop and support ships for the landings at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, the convoy was intercepted by ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In the ensuing Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Lt. Cdr. Hank took the fight to a vastly superior
surface fleet, attacking the battleship Hiei, machine-gunning the bridge at near point-blank range, and firing his 5-inch guns and torpedoes at two cruisers and three destroyers, before his destroyer was struck by return fire from Hiei's 14-inch guns and a torpedo strike near the fantail, sinking the Laffey in just minutes. Lt. Cmr. Hank and 57 of his officers and men went down fighting, having inflicted serious damage to the enemy ships.
***
Born at Norfolk, Virginia, Hank graduated from the Naval Academy in 1925. During the years before World War II, he served at various shore stations and in USS New York (CA-2), USS Hull (DD-350), and USS Saratoga (CV-3).
Commissioned Lieutenant Commander in 1940, Hank took control of Laffey (DD-459) 1 April 1942. He received the Navy Cross for his skillful handling of the ship
during the Battle of Cape Esperance. Hank received a second Navy Cross for heroism during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 12–13 November. As Laffey fought the Japanese battleship Hiei she was sunk by large caliber gunfire and a torpedo. Lt. Cmdr. Hank was reported missing and presumed dead 14 November, 1943. His ship received the Presidential Unit Citation.
USS Hank (DD-702) was named for him, and USS Laffey (DD-724) was named for his ship.
Cmdr. Hank is also memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery
Lieutenant Commander, U.S.S. Laffey (DD-459).
On the night of November 12, 1942, while escorting troop and support ships for the landings at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, the convoy was intercepted by ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In the ensuing Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Lt. Cdr. Hank took the fight to a vastly superior
surface fleet, attacking the battleship Hiei, machine-gunning the bridge at near point-blank range, and firing his 5-inch guns and torpedoes at two cruisers and three destroyers, before his destroyer was struck by return fire from Hiei's 14-inch guns and a torpedo strike near the fantail, sinking the Laffey in just minutes. Lt. Cmr. Hank and 57 of his officers and men went down fighting, having inflicted serious damage to the enemy ships.
***
Born at Norfolk, Virginia, Hank graduated from the Naval Academy in 1925. During the years before World War II, he served at various shore stations and in USS New York (CA-2), USS Hull (DD-350), and USS Saratoga (CV-3).
Commissioned Lieutenant Commander in 1940, Hank took control of Laffey (DD-459) 1 April 1942. He received the Navy Cross for his skillful handling of the ship
during the Battle of Cape Esperance. Hank received a second Navy Cross for heroism during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 12–13 November. As Laffey fought the Japanese battleship Hiei she was sunk by large caliber gunfire and a torpedo. Lt. Cmdr. Hank was reported missing and presumed dead 14 November, 1943. His ship received the Presidential Unit Citation.
USS Hank (DD-702) was named for him, and USS Laffey (DD-724) was named for his ship.
Cmdr. Hank is also memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery
On the night of November 12, 1942, while escorting troop and support ships for the landings at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, the convoy was intercepted by ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In the ensuing Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Lt. Cdr. Hank took the fight to a vastly superior
surface fleet, attacking the battleship Hiei, machine-gunning the bridge at near point-blank range, and firing his 5-inch guns and torpedoes at two cruisers and three destroyers, before his destroyer was struck by return fire from Hiei's 14-inch guns and a torpedo strike near the fantail, sinking the Laffey in just minutes. Lt. Cmr. Hank and 57 of his officers and men went down fighting, having inflicted serious damage to the enemy ships.
***
Born at Norfolk, Virginia, Hank graduated from the Naval Academy in 1925. During the years before World War II, he served at various shore stations and in USS New York (CA-2), USS Hull (DD-350), and USS Saratoga (CV-3).
Commissioned Lieutenant Commander in 1940, Hank took control of Laffey (DD-459) 1 April 1942. He received the Navy Cross for his skillful handling of the ship
during the Battle of Cape Esperance. Hank received a second Navy Cross for heroism during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 12–13 November. As Laffey fought the Japanese battleship Hiei she was sunk by large caliber gunfire and a torpedo. Lt. Cmdr. Hank was reported missing and presumed dead 14 November, 1943. His ship received the Presidential Unit Citation.
USS Hank (DD-702) was named for him, and USS Laffey (DD-724) was named for his ship.
Cmdr. Hank is also memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Virginia.
Other Records
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