| Survivors of USS Lexington (CV-2) are pulled aboard a cruiser, probably USS Minneapolis (CA-36), after the carrier was abandoned during the afternoon. Note man in the lower part of the photo who is using the cruiser’s armor belt as a hand hold. Evacuation of the wounded began shortly afterward and Sherman ordered “abandon ship” at 1707 Hours. A series of large explosions began around 1800 Hours that blew the aft elevator apart and threw aircraft into the air. Sherman waited until 1830 Hours to ensure that all of his crewmen were off the ship before leaving himself. From the time that Captain Sherman gave the abandon ship order at 1707 Hours until Lexington would finally be put out of her misery at 1841 Hours, a remarkable 2,735 of her complement of 2,951 officers and men evacuated the ship. To pull that oft, hundreds of desperate acts of courage and simple human kindness took place in 94 minutes. A look back at the record of valor represented by the awards given to the rescuers underscores this point. The destroyers USS Anderson (DD-411), USS Hammann (DD-412), and USS Morris (DD-417) bore the brunt of the rescue efforts in assisting Lexington’s survivors. The ships circled the stricken carrier looking diligently for men in the water or pulled in close to the sides of Lady Lex to haul off the ship’s company and wounded men. Morris and Anderson were battered by the thrashing Lexington several times when they moved in close to the hull. Hammann was showered with burning debris as she came alongside during 1 of Lexington’s massive explosions. Each of the 3 destroyer skippers had to exercise the utmost care not to run over men in the water, suck them into their props, or crush them between their hulls and Lexington. Every time they came close aboard, these daring commanders risked their ships. Lexington would have been ripped apart if the torpedo warheads on board had cooked off. If that had happened, any ship nearby would have been doomed as well. With the exception of Vernon Weeks, not a single instance of drowning or injury was recorded during the entire rescue operation. Each of the skippers – Lieutenant Commander John K. B. Ginder (August 13, 1900 – November 21, 1980), USS Anderson; Commander Harry B. Jarrett (October 12, 1898 – April 9, 1974), USS Morris; and Lieutenant Commander Arnold E. True (January 23, 1901 – December 11, 1979), USS Hammann – received the Navy Cross for their magnificent performances during this crowded hour and a half. 2 young ensigns from USS Hammann likewise received Navy Crosses for their heroics during the rescue operation. Ensigns Ralph Holton and Theodore Krepski were each in charge of a large motor whaleboat. Darting in and around Lexington’s hull, each officer rescued dozens of men from the oily waters surrounding the ship. Both whaleboats were hit by flaming debris and constantly in danger of being crushed or rammed, yet each ensign expertly handled his tiny command with skill and courage. Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Albert Jason (December 25, 1920 – June 6, 1942) was working 1 of the few boats that made it off Lexington to assist her own crew. Acting as coxswain, Jason steered his boat in and out of debris fields, picking up dozens of men and taking them to safety aboard the rescue ships. At 1 point, the boat’s propeller became fouled by debris. Without hesitation, Jason dove over the side and under the boat to free the prop. Once the engine was working again, Jason continued to rescue more men. Several times, he was forced to dodge burning objects hurled down from above as Lexington tore apart. Jason saved many lives via his courage and expeditious boat handling. This was not his 1st brush with this type of rescue operation, however. Only 4 days prior, he had picked up 2 downed Lexington aviators who had crashed on Guadalcanal after the Tulagi raids. In a remarkably similar scenario, he earned the Navy and Marine Corps medal for that mission. His citation reads, in part: “On a strange uncharted coast, in complete darkness and squally weather, within action range of enemy forces and in shark infested waters, he dived overboard to clear a fouled propeller and later swam through a heavy surf to carry a line to the beach and bring off an exhausted man.” For his skill and courage on May 8, Jason was honored with the Navy Cross. Unfortunately, he did not live to receive it. After Lexington, Jason was reassigned to USS Hammann. 1 month later, the ship was torpedoed and sunk at the Battle of Midway while assisting the stricken Yorktown. Jason was Missing in Action and presumed killed. Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Walter Hassell (December 18, 1915 – November 9, 2005), who was himself rescued by the cruiser New Orleans, recalled: “The ships circling around, well away from the men in the water, were careful not to get too close because of the danger of their propellers to the swimming men and rafts. I saw that a cruiser, with cargo nets hanging from her side to provide a means for the men swimming to get aboard, was very slowly approaching our area. I slipped out of my life jacket and, using my fastest overhand swimming stroke, headed for it. Luckily, I timed it just right and got alongside just about amidships. I grabbed the cargo net and started to climb up. Aboard and alive, I wrapped myself in a blanket one of the crewmen handed me and sank down on the deck to rest. Another kind soul brought me a cup of coffee and gave me a cigarette, both of which I sorely needed. It was 1930 Hours. I had been in the water one hour and forty minutes. My watch had stopped. It was not waterproof and must have stopped running shortly after I landed in the water.” There were a 1,000 other unrecorded acts of courage as 1 shipmate helped another down a rope, onto a vessel, or out of the water. Men aboard the rescuing ships stripped their quarters of blankets and sheets to wrap around the chilled and wounded. The men emptied their lockers of extra clothes and shoes to give to the men from Lexington who had lost everything except the clothes they were wearing. The rescue effort was a remarkable testament of the bonds between men at war. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1669.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.14 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5694 x 4504 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 8, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Coral Sea |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | 80-G-7392 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database