Clifton Sprague
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Vice Admiral Clifton Albert Frederick ("Ziggy") Sprague (1896-1955) was a World War II-era officer in the U.S. Navy.
He attended the Boston Latin School, and the United States Naval Academy. He became a naval aviator after his graduation from the Academy.
At the beginning of World War II, Sprague was a Commander, and was commanding the Tangier (AV-8) at Pearl Harbor during the attack. He also served as captain of the Wasp (CV-18). He is most famous for his actions during the Battle off Samar in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
As the commander of one of three escort carrier groups assigned from the 7th Fleet to support the landings ("Taffy 3" as it was known), Sprague became engaged with the powerful Japanese "Center Force" with only three destroyers and six destroyer escorts supporting the group. The commander of "Taffy 2" came into aircraft range, and helped drive off the Japanese ships. However, the Center Force was disorganized and uncoordinated, where it fell apart. The pilots off his ships bombed, strafed, and made dry runs on the battleships and cruisers of the Center Force. For the leadership he displayed in this incident, he received the Navy Cross.
After the war, Sprague served as commander of a naval district. He died in 1955 from heart disease.
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Clifton Sprague (FFG-16) was named after him. The unclassified citation for the Navy Cross was in the wardroom until shortly before decommissioning.
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