Edwin William Hurst Edwin William Hurst was born October 16 , 1910 at Falls City , Nebraska . Education . His family moved to Sioux Falls , SD when he was quite young and had his schooling in that city , He graduated from Sioux Falls High School in 1928 and received a congressional appointment to the U . S . Naval Academy in Annapolis , MD from which he graduated in 1932 . In his First Class ( Senior ) year he was selected as the commander of the 2nd Company , one of only eight in the then - Regiment of Midshipmen . Navy career . After serving in [ USS Tennessee ( BB - 43 ) for two years , in 1934 he received orders to report to aviation flight training in Pensacola , FL . He earned his wings in 1935 and in that year he married the former Marian Jeannette Hurst , also of Sioux Falls . He was then assigned to Scout Bombing Squadron 3 aboard the USS Saratoga ( CV - 3 ) . He was selected for the Naval Postgraduate School in 1939 and completed its course in Ordnance & Gunnery . In May 1941 he reported to Torpedo Squadron 2 aboard USS Lexington ( CV - 2 ) to assume the duties of Squadron Executive Officer Earning the Navy Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross . In March 1942 , in an attempt to slow or stop the Japanese overland advance on Port Morseby , for the Navy bombers that were carrying torpedoes was that the height of the Owen Stanley mountain range which they had to cross was above the ceiling of an SBD " Devastator " when carrying a torpedo . Led by squadron commander LCDR James Brett and LT Hurst , the airplanes flew along the south ridge of the mountains until they encountered an updraft that carried them just over the peaks . The slightest miscalculation could have resulted in most if not all of the SBDs being pushed into the sides of the mountains . Achieving complete surprise , LT Hurst one half odf the squadron as he pressed home a successful torpedo and strafing attack in Lae harbor in the face of heavy antiaircraft fire . The raid severely damaged enemy shipping and installations , and for his actions on the mission , he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross . During the critical Battle of the Coral Sea on May 7 & 8 , 1942 , on the 7th he daringly attacked the Japanese light carrier " Shoho " and his torpedo contributed to that ship ' s sinking . The following day his squadron flew against the fleet carriers " Shokaku " and " Zuikaku " . He was credited with pressing home an accurate attack through withering antiaircraft fire to deliver his torpedo against the hull of the " Shokaku " . Unfortunately , the torpedo malfunctioned and failed to detonate . Nevertheless , in recognition of his skill and gallantry , he was awarded the Navy Cross . Unfortunately , neither award was processed and approved before his death , so both were actually awarded posthumously . Lost in a Plane Crash . With his gallant carrier USS Lexington sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea , Lt . Hurst was sent to New Zealand with half of the VTB - 2 survivors while LCDR Brett returned to NAS North Island with the other half . It was intended at that time that the stateside contingent would transition into the new TBF Avenger and then proceed to the South Pacific with them to phase in LT Hurst ' s detachment . However , before the process had begun he was killed in an aircraft crash on June 9 , 1942 near Whemuapai , New Zealand . Namesake . USS Hurst ( DE - 250 ) was named in his honor . The ship , a destroyer escort , was launched by Brown Shipbuilding Co . , Houston , Texas , April 14 , 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Jeanette Harris Hurst , widow ; and commissioned August 30 , 1943 , Lt . Comdr . B . H . Brallier commanding .