Two times World War II Navy Cross recipient. Lieutenant Commander of U.S.S. Triton submarine while patrolling the East China Sea led the first torpedo attack against the Japanese of World War II. His citation for the awards reads:
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TRITON (SS-201), on the SECOND War Patrol of that submarine during the period 25 January 1942 to 17 March 1942, in enemy controlled waters of the East China Sea. Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent took his ship on an aggressive patrol against the enemy in hazardous waters. Despite Japanese air search he sank thousands of tons of Japanese shipping, also returning to base without damage to his submarine or personnel. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. GRENADIER (SS-210), during the aggressive and highly successful SECOND and THIRD War Patrols of that submarine during the period 12 April 1942 to 10 June 1942, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. The GRENADIER, avoiding enemy escort vessels, pressed home every favorable attack opportunity and succeeded in sinking two enemy Japanese merchant ships whose total tonnage was 24,400 tons. Lieutenant Commander Lent so skillfully maneuvered his ship as to avoid two prolonged depth charge attacks following the second sinking and by adeptly executed evasion tactics brought his ship through without injury to personnel or damage to material. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TRITON (SS-201), on the SECOND War Patrol of that submarine during the period 25 January 1942 to 17 March 1942, in enemy controlled waters of the East China Sea. Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent took his ship on an aggressive patrol against the enemy in hazardous waters. Despite Japanese air search he sank thousands of tons of Japanese shipping, also returning to base without damage to his submarine or personnel. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. GRENADIER (SS-210), during the aggressive and highly successful SECOND and THIRD War Patrols of that submarine during the period 12 April 1942 to 10 June 1942, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. The GRENADIER, avoiding enemy escort vessels, pressed home every favorable attack opportunity and succeeded in sinking two enemy Japanese merchant ships whose total tonnage was 24,400 tons. Lieutenant Commander Lent so skillfully maneuvered his ship as to avoid two prolonged depth charge attacks following the second sinking and by adeptly executed evasion tactics brought his ship through without injury to personnel or damage to material. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Two times World War II Navy Cross recipient. Lieutenant Commander of U.S.S. Triton submarine while patrolling the East China Sea led the first torpedo attack against the Japanese of World War II. His citation for the awards reads:
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TRITON (SS-201), on the SECOND War Patrol of that submarine during the period 25 January 1942 to 17 March 1942, in enemy controlled waters of the East China Sea. Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent took his ship on an aggressive patrol against the enemy in hazardous waters. Despite Japanese air search he sank thousands of tons of Japanese shipping, also returning to base without damage to his submarine or personnel. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. GRENADIER (SS-210), during the aggressive and highly successful SECOND and THIRD War Patrols of that submarine during the period 12 April 1942 to 10 June 1942, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. The GRENADIER, avoiding enemy escort vessels, pressed home every favorable attack opportunity and succeeded in sinking two enemy Japanese merchant ships whose total tonnage was 24,400 tons. Lieutenant Commander Lent so skillfully maneuvered his ship as to avoid two prolonged depth charge attacks following the second sinking and by adeptly executed evasion tactics brought his ship through without injury to personnel or damage to material. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TRITON (SS-201), on the SECOND War Patrol of that submarine during the period 25 January 1942 to 17 March 1942, in enemy controlled waters of the East China Sea. Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent took his ship on an aggressive patrol against the enemy in hazardous waters. Despite Japanese air search he sank thousands of tons of Japanese shipping, also returning to base without damage to his submarine or personnel. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. GRENADIER (SS-210), during the aggressive and highly successful SECOND and THIRD War Patrols of that submarine during the period 12 April 1942 to 10 June 1942, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. The GRENADIER, avoiding enemy escort vessels, pressed home every favorable attack opportunity and succeeded in sinking two enemy Japanese merchant ships whose total tonnage was 24,400 tons. Lieutenant Commander Lent so skillfully maneuvered his ship as to avoid two prolonged depth charge attacks following the second sinking and by adeptly executed evasion tactics brought his ship through without injury to personnel or damage to material. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
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