LOWRANCE-VERNON

A  DISTINGUISHED  NAVY  CAREER

Vernon Long Lowrance was born on April 19, 1909, in Catawba, North Carolina.  He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1930.  After graduation he served on the submarine USS California in the Asiatic Station, the USS Bushnell in the Atlantic, the USS Kingfish, and USS Sea Dog.  During World War II, Lowrance commanded two submarines and was credited with seven successful combat patrols which sunk some 56,000 tons of enemy shipping.  It is reported that on one occasion he stated that if his submarine and crew made it through a particularly fierce depth-charge attack, he would fill a church.  Soon after, all the crew members put on their dress whites and gathered at a church in Pearl Harbor.  When the war ended, he was commander of Submarine Division 121 and later commanded Submarine Squadron Eight.  For his service aboard USS Kingfish during World War II, then LCDR Lowrance was awarded the Navy Cross.

Later, Lowrance was appointed as Commander Cruiser Division Three and Commander Training Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet.  He next served as the Director of Naval Intelligence from September 1960 to June 1963 which included the Cuban Missile Crisis.  On September 1, 1964, he became the Commander, Submarine Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and continued in that command until 1966.  He next reported to Washington, DC, where he served as Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Vice Admiral Vernon Long Lowrance died on May 12, 1995, survived by his second wife, a son, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and four stepchildren.  His ashes are entombed at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD.

NAVY  CROSS  CITATION

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Vernon Long Lowrance, USN, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. KINGFISH (SS-234), during the highly successful and aggressive FIRST War Patrol of that submarine in enemy Japanese-controlled waters during the period from 9 September to 3 November 1942, which resulted in the sinking of 11,958 tons of enemy shipping and the severe damaging of 10,100 tons.  The courage and fearless leadership displayed by Lieutenant Commander Lowrance during torpedo and gun attacks and the subsequent severe depth charge attacks by the enemy served to steady and inspire the crew on its first war patrol.  His gallant devotion to duty and the high morale of his command reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)