Luke William Able

Lieutenant, U. S. Navy

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Commander Destroyers Pacific: Serial 2142 (April 21, 1946)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade (MC) Luke Able (NSN: 0-344615), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Medical Officer of the U.S.S. AULICK (DD-569), on 29 November 1944.
His ship, while conducting operations against the enemy in Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, was struck by a Japanese Kamikaze plane. Several men in the vicinity of his battle station, the forward dressing station, were killed or wounded. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Able, although critically wounded himself with compound fractures of both legs and multiple wounds, refused medical aid for himself until the first aid he directed for others had been carried out. He continued to direct first aid until he lost consciousness. His disregard for personal safety and determination to render first aid to others saved many lives. His conduct and devotion to duty were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.