Memorial Plaque from the USS Enterprise (CV-6) Marshall Islands

Title: Memorial Plaque, USS Enterprise (CV-6), Marshall Islands Jan 31, 1942
Accession #: NHHC 1958-16-C
Circa: 1942
Size: 24.4 x 16.4
Medium: Bronze
Location: Headquarters Artifact Collection, Naval History and Heritage Command
One memorial plaque for the USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) attack on the Marshall Islands and the sailors lost during the battle. The plaque is bronze and has naval aviator wings at the top followed by the inscription: USS ENTERPRISE / IN MEMORY / LOST IN ACTION 31 JANUARY 1942 / ATTACK ON MARSHALL ISLANDS // Below inscription is a list of the Navy personnel who died during the battle:
LT. COMDR. H.L. Hopping USN VS-6
ENS. C.T. FOGG USN VS-6
ENS. E.R. DONNELL JR. USNR VS-6
ENS. DANIEL SEID USNR VS-6
ENS. J.J. DOHERTY USNR VB-6
ENS. D.W. CRISWELL USNR VF-6
H.R. THOMAS RM1c VS-6
A.J. TRAVIS AMM2c VS-6
D.F. GROGG AMM3c VS-6
O.L. DENNIS RM3c VS-6
W.E. Hunt AOM3c VB-6
G.H. SMITH BM2c 3 DIV.
On 1 February 1942, USS Enterprise’s Task Force 8 and USS Yorktown’s Task Force 17 launched raids on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands in the Pacific, targeting Japanese Navy garrisons and airfields. While ultimately successful in damaging Japanese assets on the islands, the raids did not provide major long-term benefits. It did, however boost American morale as these raids were part of the first offensive actions by the US Navy following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor almost two months prior.