Lawrence Nathaniel Jackson was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Jackson Rt. 3, Lenoir city, Tenn.
He died when the USS Spence was sank in the Typhoon Cobra, 3rd Fleet 200 miles NE Samar, December 18, 1944
The destroyers Hull, Monaghan and Spence were returning from patrol with their fuel tanks almost empty when they were overwhelmed by a typhoon east of Samar, Philippine Islands. The storm broke at dawn on December 17th, 1944, with a wind velocity estimated at 130 miles per hour. The vessels attempted to refuel at sea but the conditions made this impossible. The Spence was the first to get into difficulties and at about 9 a.m. her steering gear was damaged and she became unmanageable. Three hours later she sank with most of her complement of 341. The Hull was at first more fortunate than her consorts but at about 11 a.m. she too lost her steering gear and although she remained afloat for more than an hour afterwards there was never any hope of saving her. She sank with 201 officers and ratings. The survivors numbered 62. The Monaghan, a sister ship to the Hull, foundered half-an-hour later with the loss of all but six of her crew.
He is memorialized at Manila Amercan Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines.
- Rank: Officers Cook Second Class
- Date of birth: 29 April 1916
- Date of death: 18 December 1944
- County: Loudon
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: USS SPENCE (DD512)
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Navy Presidential Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal
- Burial/Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XV, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Lawrence N. Jackson
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