Damon M. Cummings

Damon M. Cummings was a United States Navy officer who received a posthumous Navy Cross for his actions during World War II.

Biography

Damon Morris Cummings was born on January 30, 1910 in Belvidere, Illinois, the son of then-Ensign (later Captain) Damon Earhart Cummings (1885–1969) and Ennis Frances Morris.^[1][2] He graduated in 1927 from St. Albans School in Washington, D.C.,^[3] and from the United States Naval Academy on June 4, 1931.

He served in heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) and destroyer USS Monaghan (DD-354) and had staff duty at Naval Submarine Base New London at New London, Connecticut, and with Destroyer Squadron 3 (DesRon 3).

While serving on the staff of Vice Admiral William F. Halsey—the Commander, South Pacific Force (COMSOPAC) -- Lieutenant Commander Cummings was killed in action on board heavy cruiser San Francisco (CA-38) on the night of 12–13 November 1942 during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

Awards

For his heroism and determination during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Cummings was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

Namesake

During World War II, the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Damon Cummings (DE-756) was named for Lieutenant Commander Cummings. Her construction was cancelled in 1943 before she could be completed.

In 1944, the destroyer escort USS Damon M. Cummings (DE-643) was named in his honor. She was in commission from 1944 to 1947.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

Notes