William Finnic Cates

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William Finnic Cates was born in Drummonds, Tennessee, 30 April 1916, and enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 21 January 1942.

Contents 1 Awarded Navy Cross 2 Namesake 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Awarded Navy Cross

While serving as Seaman Second Class in USS San Francisco (CA-38), Cates was killed in action 12 November 1942 when a Japanese torpedo plane, which he kept under fire while refusing to leave his station, crashed aboard the ship. For this heroism, he received the Navy Cross posthumously.

[edit] Namesake

USS Cates (DE-763) was named in his honor. The ship was launched 10 October 1943 by Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Inc., Tampa, Florida, sponsored by Mrs. P. Dyer, and, commissioned 15 December 1943.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• Cates