Lewis Hancock, Jr. – Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

Lewis Hancock, Jr. was born 15 October 1889 at Austin Texas. He entered the Naval Academy in 1906 and, after graduation 3 June 1910 entered the submarine service. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his exploits and commanding officer of L-4 during World War I. Lieutenant Commander Hancock died 3 September 1925 near Caldwell, Ohio, in the crash of Lighter-than-air ship Shenandoah 3.

Lewis Hancock (DD-675), a Fletcher Class Destroyer, was laid down 31 March, 1943 by Federal Shipbuilding & Dry-dock Co., Kearny, NJ, launched 1 August; sponsored by Lt. Joy Hancock, USNR widow of Lieutenant Commander Hancock, and the first Wave officer to christen a U.S. combatant ship; and commissioned 29 September 1943, Commander Charles H. Lyman in command. Born on October 15, 1889, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1910. An early Naval Aviator, his private memorial in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery reads:

“Died With The USS Shenandoah”

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The USS Shenandoah was a Naval Airship (blimp) that crashed in bad weather in Ohio on September 3, 1925 with a large number of casualties. More information about the Shenandoah will be added at a later date, as a number of those killed aboard her are buried in Arlington.

His wife, Joy Bright Little Hancock Ofstie (Captain, United States Navy), eventually married Vice Admiral Ralph Andrew Ofstie, United States Navy.  The Admiral and the Captain are buried together in Section 30 of Arlington National Cemetery.

jblhofstie-06USS Lewis Hancock (DD-675)

The ship’s sponsor, Lieutenant Joy Bright Hancock, USNR,  prepares for the christening, during launching ceremonies at  the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny,  New Jersey, 1 August 1943.  The ship was named in honor of Lieutenant Hancock’s late  husband, Lieutenant Commander Lewis Hancock, USN,  who was killed in the crash of USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) in  1925.

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