Charles Lawrence Ausburne (July 26, 1889 – October 17, 1917) enlisted in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

February 25, 1908. As an Electrician First Class, Ausburne manned the emergency

wireless Wireless communication (or just wireless, when the context allows) is the transfer of information between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or other continuous guided medium for the transfer. The most ...

station in the

Army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

transport , and following the ship's fatal

torpedo A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, su ...

ing October 17, 1917 by ''U-105'', stood to his duty until the ship sank beneath him. His gallantry was recognized in the posthumous award of the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

. Two ships of the U.S. Navy have been named in his honor. Since other family members spelled their name as Ausburn, the first ship was named . It was later found that he himself spelled his surname as Ausburne, and the second ship was named .

External links

www.history.navy.mil: USS ''Charles Ausburne''

at home.insightbb.com 1889 births 1917 deaths Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) People from New Orleans American military personnel killed in World War I Deaths due to shipwreck at sea United States Navy personnel of World War I United States Navy sailors Military personnel from Louisiana {{US-navy-bio-stub