USS Lake
USS Lake (DE-301) was an of the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home with two battle stars. Namesake John Ervin Lake was born on 22 October 1910 in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the Navy on 13 April 1928. After service on several ships and stations ashore, Lake was warranted Acting Pay Clerk 16 September 1940 and assigned to the cruiser . He reported to on 20 September 1940 and was killed in action on board that battleship during the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Construction and commissioning Lake was laid down on 22 April 1943 by Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California; launched on 18 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Carol M. Feldman; and commissioned on 5 February 1944. World War II Pacific Theater operations Lake sailed from San Francisco, California, on 11 April 1944 escorting to a convoy to Hawaii and arriving on 20 April. She operated there until sailing on 23 June to escort a convoy to the Marshall