Naval History and Heritage Command

Finding aid (Word)

Biographical Note

Horace C. Laird, Jr. was born in Norfolk, Virginia on 29 December 1912. After graduating from Norfolk's Maury High School in 1930, he enlisted in the Navy. On 17 June 1931, Laird received a Special Order Discharge and entered the U.S. Naval Academy the following day. He completed the Academy in 1935, and was commissioned an Ensign on 6 June.

Following his graduation from the Academy, Laird was assigned to the carrier USS Ranger. After a year on board, he was transferred to USS Brooks, where he served until 1938. Receiving his commission as a Lieutenant (jg) in June of that year, Laird was detached in September and reported to USS Jacob Jones. He was serving with Jacob Jones in the Atlantic when the US declared war on 8 December 1941.

Laird was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1942. He left Jacob Jones the following month to join the new battleship USS Indiana then under construction at Newport News, Virginia. Following Indiana's commissioning in April, he served on board until January 1944. During his tour, the ship completed her shakedown cruise and gunnery exercises in the Atlantic, and made a November transit of the Panama Canal to join the Pacific Fleet. Indiana took part in the Rennell Island operation in January 1943, supported the New Georgia campaign in June and July, and participated in actions at Tarawa, Nauru, and Kwajalein.

In 1943, while serving on Indiana, Laird was named a Lieutenant Commander. Transferred in February 1944, he returned to the United States where he served briefly with Amphibious Training Command, Atlantic Fleet before returning to the Pacific in April. He had duty with LCI(L) Group, Pacific Fleet until arriving on USS Bataan in June.

Detached from Bataan in March 1945, he reported to Treasure Island Receiving Station in San Pedro, California. Laird served at Treasure Island for two years, being ordered to Naval Operating Base at Midway Island in April 1947. In June 1948 he was promoted to Commander and assumed command of USSGrainger. Laird remained in that assignment for the next three years.

In March 1951, Laird reported to Commandant Twelfth Naval District as Director of Discipline. He was transferred to the retired list on 1 February 1959. Commander Laird died on 16 December 1994 in Landstuhl, Germany.

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains the papers of Commander Horace C. Laird. There are two series in the collection. Series I, Correspondence, consists largely of official correspondence, and includes orders and endorsements, leave requests, assignments to temporary additional duty, and other official communications. The Correspondence is arranged chronologically.

In Series II are invitations to Laird and his wife to various receptions and official functions. Among the events are a reception following the coronation of King Hussein of Jordan, a reception by the Chargé d'Affairs of China, and the 4th Anniversary of the Liberation of Guam. The invitations are in chronological order.

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as Papers of Horace C. Laird, Archives Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.

Subject Headings (LCSH)

World War, 1939-1945--Naval Operations, American.
Invitation Cards.
United States Naval Academy.
Ranger (Aircraft Carrier : CV-4)
Indiana (Battleship : BB-58)
Bataan (Aircraft Carrier : CVL-29)
Brooks (Destroyer : DD-130)
Jacob Jones (Destroyer : DD-130)
Grainger (Cargo Ship : AK-184)
United States. Navy--History--Sources.