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Ramage, Lawson P.

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Vice Admiral, USN, (1909-1990)

Lawson Paterson Ramage was born on 19 January 1909 in Monroe Bridge, Massachusetts. Appointed from Vermont to the U.S. Naval Academy, he graduated an Ensign in June 1931 and reported to the destroyer Dickerson, which was followed by duty on board USS Lawrence and USS Louisville. In June 1934, he was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. Completing submarine instruction at the Submarine School, New London, Connecticut, in December 1935, he received orders to submarine S-29. While receiving instruction at the Post Graduate School at Annapolis, Maryland, Ramage was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1939. That September, he reported to the destroyer Sands. In March 1941, he was assigned as a Radio and Sound Officer with Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, then Territory of Hawaii, and was present during the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941.

In April 1942, Ramage received orders to USS Grenadier. That June, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and assumed command of USS Trout. In November, he was promoted to Commander. In June 1943, he transferred to command USS Parche. On 31 July 1944, teaming with USS Steelhead in a predawn surface attack on a Japanese convoy off Takao, Taiwan, Parche sank the Japanese transport Manko Maru and tanker Koei Maru while also damaging two other Japanese vessels. She then teamed up with her companion to sink Japanese army cargo ship Yoshino Maru. For his "conspicuous gallantry" on this occasion, Ramage was awarded the Medal of Honor. In January 1945, he was assigned to Commander Submarines, Pacific Fleet and transferred to Commander, Submarine Division Two. In August 1947, he served at the Chief of Naval Operations Office. Completing the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, he was promoted to Captain in July 1950 and reported for staff duty with Commander, Submarines, Atlantic Fleet.

In September 1951, Ramage became Commander, Submarine Squadron Six. Returning to sea in April 1953, he commanded the attack cargo ship Rankin. After instruction at the Naval War College and a brief tour with Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic, he returned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he was promoted to Rear Admiral in July 1956. In September 1958, he became Commander, Cruiser Division Two and again served at the Chief of Naval Operations until assigned as Deputy Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet in August 1962. In July 1963, Ramage was promoted to Vice Admiral and returned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. The following year, he became Commander, First Fleet. In August 1966, he served as Deputy Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet. In March 1967, he was assigned as Commander Military Sea Transportation Service in Washington, D.C., until he retired from active duty in 1969 and placed on the retired list. Lawson P. Ramage died on 15 April 1990 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

USS Ramage (DDG-61), 1995-____, is named in honor of Vice Admiral Lawson P. Ramage.