Mark Hanna Crouter, Commander, USN

Born 3 October 1897 in Baker, Oreg., graduated from the Naval Academy 7 June 1919. After extensive service at sea and ashore, he served as first engineering officer in Enterprise (CV-6), and from 11 May 1942 was executive officer in San Francisco (CA-38). In the night Naval Battle of Guadalcanal of 12 and 13 November 1942, when an outnumbered American force turned a Japanese raiding group back from its intended attack on shipping off Guadalcanal, Commander Crouter was severely wounded early in the action, but insisted on remaining at his station to play his part in fighting the ship until killed. His courageous devotion to duty was recognized with a posthumous award of the Navy Cross.