MARTIN H. RAY, JR., LT, USN
Martin Ray, Jr. '34
Lucky Bag
From the 1934 Lucky Bag:
MARTIN HASSET RAY, JR.
Yonkers, New York
"Marty"
TO repudiate the theory that history repeats itself, Marty, an Army Jr., left Yonkers in the summer of '30 to matriculate at the Naval Academy. An abundance of fun-loving qualities has not inclined him to take life too seriously; a cheerful countenance and friendships that grew warmer with acquaintance have placed him in the ranks of the accepted few.
Did someone say Red Mike? Yessir, that's what he claims, but we often wonder if it's not all on the surface, and that maybe he has a suppressed desire back in old New York.
In the fall his time is devoted to football tasks. First Class Year found him guiding the fortunes of the gridiron warriors as Manager. When winter comes, he joins the grunt and groaners, not to mention his aquatic endeavors with the Sub-squad.
Academics presented little or no difficulty to Marty, though late in Second Class Summer he honored the good ship Reina, in an attempt to further his navigational knowledge, and became a full-fledged wearer of the famed black "N."
Common sense and practical ideas backed by a ready grin constitute his wordly wealth. A fine classmate with the makings of a good officer. Lots of luck, Marty.
Assistant Football Manager 4, 3, 2. Varsity Mgr. 1. N*. Wrestling 4, 3, 2, 1. Reception Committee 3, 2, 1. Log Staff 4, 3. Black N***. 2 P.O.
MARTIN HASSET RAY, JR.
Yonkers, New York
"Marty"
TO repudiate the theory that history repeats itself, Marty, an Army Jr., left Yonkers in the summer of '30 to matriculate at the Naval Academy. An abundance of fun-loving qualities has not inclined him to take life too seriously; a cheerful countenance and friendships that grew warmer with acquaintance have placed him in the ranks of the accepted few.
Did someone say Red Mike? Yessir, that's what he claims, but we often wonder if it's not all on the surface, and that maybe he has a suppressed desire back in old New York.
In the fall his time is devoted to football tasks. First Class Year found him guiding the fortunes of the gridiron warriors as Manager. When winter comes, he joins the grunt and groaners, not to mention his aquatic endeavors with the Sub-squad.
Academics presented little or no difficulty to Marty, though late in Second Class Summer he honored the good ship Reina, in an attempt to further his navigational knowledge, and became a full-fledged wearer of the famed black "N."
Common sense and practical ideas backed by a ready grin constitute his wordly wealth. A fine classmate with the makings of a good officer. Lots of luck, Marty.
Assistant Football Manager 4, 3, 2. Varsity Mgr. 1. N*. Wrestling 4, 3, 2, 1. Reception Committee 3, 2, 1. Log Staff 4, 3. Black N***. 2 P.O.
Loss
Marty was lost when USS Hammann (DD 412) was sunk by a torpedo from the Japanese destroyer I-168 during the Battle of Midway on June 6, 1942. He was the ship's Engineering Officer.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Martin was born in Philadelphia. He graduated from Roosevelt High School, Yonkers, New York, with a scholarship to the College of Arts and Pure Science at New York University. He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Congressman William Sirovich in May 1930.
In June 1930, Martin’s mother died unexpectedly from an infection while he was at the Naval Academy. She had been active in Republican politics and was a member of the Parent-Teacher Association.
His father was Army Reserve Corps Major Martin H. Ray who graduated from West Point in 1910. He later became vice-president of Todd and Brown which operated the Kingsbury ordnance plant at Laporte, Indiana.
Martin’s wife was the former Georgiana Solari. They married on May 18, 1939. After Martin’s death, she remarried in January 1947 to James Theodore Richards.
His sister was Margery, and his brothers were John, Alan and Roger. John and Roger served in the Army.
On May 8, 1942, Alan (’41) was rescued by Martin’s ship the Hammann when the aircraft carrier U. S. S. Lexington was sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea. They had a brief reunion on board. A month later, Martin died when the Hammann was sunk.
His wife was listed as next of kin.
Martin is remembered at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Martin Hasset Ray, Jr. (NSN: 0-73598), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Engineering Officer aboard the Destroyer U.S.S. HAMMANN (DD-412), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle of Midway on 6 June 1942. After his vessel had been struck by enemy torpedoes, Lieutenant Ray capably and efficiently directed efforts at damage control, supervised evacuation of spaces below decks, and assisted other personnel in leaving the ship. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 309 (December 1942)
Action Date: 6-Jun-42
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Engineer Officer
Division: U.S.S. Hammann (DD-412)
Photographs
From The Yonkers Herald on May 14, 1930
From The Indianapolis News on November 30, 1942
Namesake
USS Martin H. Ray (DE-338) was named in his honor. The ship was laid down 27 October 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas; launched 23 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. M. H. Ray, Jr., widow of Lt. Ray, and commissioned 28 February 1944, Lt. H. V. Tucker, Jr., in command.
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
July 1934
October 1934
January 1935
April 1935
October 1935
January 1936
April 1936
July 1936
January 1937
April 1937
September 1937
January 1938
July 1938
January 1939
April 1941
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
