Willis A. Lent- Rear Admiral, United States Navy

WILLIS A. LENT, 55, A RETIRED ADMIRAL

NEW LONDON, Connecticut, August 28, 1959 – Rear Admiral Willis A. Lent, U.S.N., retired, died tonight at the Station Hospital at the Naval Submarine Base here.  His age was 55.  He lived in Mystic.

Admiral Lent was commanding officer of the Triton, a submarine that made the first torpedo attack against the Japanese in World War II.  His decorations included the Legion of Merit and two Navy Crosses.

He was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1925 and was promoted to Rear Admiral upon his retirement in 1955.  Since then he had been with the Electric Boar Division of the General Dynamics Corporation.

Surviving are his widow, Eleanor, and two sons, John G., and Lieutenant Willis A. Lent, Jr., U.S.N.  A funeral will be held Tuesday morning at Arlington National Cemetery.


LENT, WILLIS A.

(First Award)

Citation:

The Navy Cross is presented to Willis A. Lent, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Triton.

Lieutenant Commander Willis A. Lent took his ship on an aggressive patrol against the enemy in hazardous waters. Despite Japanese air search he sank thousands of tons of Japanese shipping, also returning to base without damage to his submarine or personnel.

LENT, WILLIS A.
(Second Award)

Synopsis:

The Navy Cross (First Gold Star) is presented to Willis A. Lent, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action from April 12 through 10 June 1942, while serving as Commanding Officer of the submarine U.S.S. Grenadier in the Pacific. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.

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