Lowry, George M.
George Maus Lowry was born on 27 October 1889 in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was appointed from that same state to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 1911. For his two-year Midshipman sea duty, he reported to USS North Dakota and transferred to USS Florida. Commissioned an Ensign in March 1912, he remained on board Florida and was serving on board during the intervention at Vera Cruz, Mexico. On 21 and 22 April 1914, while commanding at the head of his company, Lowry led his men in battle with skill and courage. For his "distinguished conduct in battle," he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Remaining at sea, Lowry reported on board USS North Carolina. In March 1915, he was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade and transferred to USS O'Brien. In July 1917, due to World War I, he was temporarily promoted to Lieutenant. After completing a brief tour on board USS Jenkins, he served at the First Naval District at Boston, Massachusetts. In June 1918, he reported to Union Iron Works at San Francisco, California, to help fit-out the destroyer Ringgold, where he was temporarily promoted to Lieutenant Commander a month later. Following commissioning, he became the Executive Officer. In June 1919, he was assigned to the Bureau of Navigation at the Navy Department in Washington, D.C. In September 1921, he reported to USS Coghlan, then transferred to the destroyer O'Bannon.
After assuming command of USS MacDonough, he was permanently promoted to Lieutenant Commander. In July 1924, he returned to the Bureau of Navigation until resigning in March 1927 to enter the Naval Reserve. In December 1940, Lowry was ordered to active duty in the Fleet Reserve and assigned to the Twelfth Naval District in San Francisco, California. A year later, he served as Operations Officer on the staff of the Commander, Western Sea Frontier, developing and executing defense measures against enemy vessels, mainly submarines, in U.S. coastal sea lanes. In July 1942, he was promoted to Captain. Upon being relieved of active duty in September 1946, Lowry was promoted to Rear Admiral and transferred to the retired reserve list a month later. George M. Lowry died on 25 September 1981 and his ashes were scattered at sea.
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