David John Roche
David John Roche, born in Hibbing, Minnesota December 2, 1918 enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as seaman second class on November 13, 1939. He was appointed aviation cadet effective February 15, 1940, designated naval aviator (heavier-than-air), October 14, and became an ensign, USNR, effective October 21, 1940. Following training at Pensacola Naval Air Station, he was assigned to Torpedo Squadron 3 and reported for duty on December 1. He was officially reported missing in action as of June 4, 1942, when the plane he was piloting was shot down in the Battle of Midway. For pressing home his torpedo attack on Japanese naval units in the face of tremendous antiaircraft fire and overwhelming fighter opposition, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
David John Roche | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 2, 1918 Hibbing, Minnesota |
| Died | June 4, 1942 (aged 23) Midway Atoll |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1940–1942 |
| Rank | ensign |
| Unit | Torpedo Squadron 3 (VT-3) |
| Battles/wars | World War II *Battle of Midway |
| Awards | Navy Cross (posthumous) |
Namesake
In 1943, the destroyer escort USS Roche (DE-197) was named in his honor.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- "Roche". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved March 23, 2007.