Eugene Morland Key

Eugene Morland Key was born at Conroe, Texas, October 5, 1916.

For the American writer, see Eugene George Key.
Eugene Morland Key
Born(1916-10-05)October 5, 1916
Conroe, Texas
DiedAugust 7, 1942(1942-08-07) (aged 25)
Tulagi
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchMarine Corps Reserves
Years of service1941–1942
RankFirst Lieutenant
Unit1st Marine Raider Battalion
Battles/warsBattle of Tulagi
AwardsNavy Cross (posthumous)

Marine Corps Career

Key enlisted as a Private in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves January 17, 1941. Commissioned Second Lieutenant May 29, he served at San Diego, California, and Washington, D.C., before joining the 1st Marine Raider Battalion March 19, 1942. Promoted to First Lieutenant June 4, he participated in the amphibious invasion of Tulagi Island, Solomons, August 7,.

While leading the assault against a heavily defended, enemy position, Lieutenant Key was hit by hostile sniper fire. Although mortally wounded, he courageously struggled forward and threw hand grenades into the Japanese position, thus destroying the enemy resistance and allowing his platoon to advance without further loss.

Awarded the Navy Cross

For his "indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding skill, and great personal valor" First Lieutenant Key was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

Namesake

USS Key (DE-348) was named in his honor. She was launched February 12, 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas, sponsored by Mrs. Ira F. Key, mother of First Lieutenant Key; and commissioned June 5, 1944, Lieutenant Commander F. D. Buckley in command.

gollark: Which is ironic given their general contempt for privacy.
gollark: Oddly, Australia actually stopped them (or ordered them to delete Australians' faces, don't know if they actually *did*).
gollark: They're in the weird position of using technically-public-ish information in ominous privacy-violating ways.
gollark: The only people they can actually go around selling that *to* is governments, though.
gollark: When you said "actual replacement" I assumed you meant "not a currency with slightly different implementation".

See also

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


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