World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1911. Promoted Rear Admiral in May 1942, he was sent to the south Pacific, where he commanded a fire support group during the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi in early August 1942. On October 11th and 12th 1942, he commanded a cruiser-destroyer force in the Battle of Cape Esperance, the U.S. Navy's first surface victory of the campaign. On November 13, 1942, he was second in command during the initial night action of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. In that brutal fight he was killed in action when his flagship, the light cruiser U.S.S. Atlanta (CL-51), was fatally damaged by Japanese gunfire and torpedoes. For his "extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity" in the October and November 1942 battles, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His remains were never recovered and he is listed on the WALL OF THE MISSING in the American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. He now has a cenotaph marker in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, IN, located in Section 213 at the Veterans Memorial. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *SCOTT, NORMAN Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty during action against enemy Japanese forces off Savo Island on the night of 11-12 October and again on the night of 12-13 November 1942. In the earlier action, intercepting a Japanese Task Force intent upon storming our island positions and landing reinforcements at Guadalcanal, Rear Adm. Scott, with courageous skill and superb coordination of the units under his command, destroyed 8 hostile vessels and put the others to flight. Again challenged, a month later, by the return of a stubborn and persistent foe, he led his force into a desperate battle against tremendous odds, directing close-range operations against the invading enemy until he himself was killed in the furious bombardment by their superior firepower. On each of these occasions his dauntless initiative, inspiring leadership and judicious foresight in a crisis of grave responsibility contributed decisively to the rout of a powerful invasion fleet and to the consequent frustration of a formidable Japanese offensive. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1911. Promoted Rear Admiral in May 1942, he was sent to the south Pacific, where he commanded a fire support group during the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi in early August 1942. On October 11th and 12th 1942, he commanded a cruiser-destroyer force in the Battle of Cape Esperance, the U.S. Navy's first surface victory of the campaign. On November 13, 1942, he was second in command during the initial night action of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. In that brutal fight he was killed in action when his flagship, the light cruiser U.S.S. Atlanta (CL-51), was fatally damaged by Japanese gunfire and torpedoes. For his "extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity" in the October and November 1942 battles, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His remains were never recovered and he is listed on the WALL OF THE MISSING in the American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. He now has a cenotaph marker in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, IN, located in Section 213 at the Veterans Memorial. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *SCOTT, NORMAN Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty during action against enemy Japanese forces off Savo Island on the night of 11-12 October and again on the night of 12-13 November 1942. In the earlier action, intercepting a Japanese Task Force intent upon storming our island positions and landing reinforcements at Guadalcanal, Rear Adm. Scott, with courageous skill and superb coordination of the units under his command, destroyed 8 hostile vessels and put the others to flight. Again challenged, a month later, by the return of a stubborn and persistent foe, he led his force into a desperate battle against tremendous odds, directing close-range operations against the invading enemy until he himself was killed in the furious bombardment by their superior firepower. On each of these occasions his dauntless initiative, inspiring leadership and judicious foresight in a crisis of grave responsibility contributed decisively to the rout of a powerful invasion fleet and to the consequent frustration of a formidable Japanese offensive. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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