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Rank and organization: Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy. Birth: 10 August 1889,
Indianapolis, Ind. Appointed from: Indiana. Citation: For extraordinary
heroism and conspicuous intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty during
action against enemy Japanese forces off Savo Island on the night of 11-12
October and again on the night of 12-13 November 1942. In the earlier action,
intercepting a Japanese Task Force intent upon storming our island positions
and landing reinforcements at Guadalcanal, Rear Adm. Scott, with courageous
skill and superb coordination of the units under his command, destroyed
8 hostile vessels and put the others to flight. Again challenged, a month
later, by the return of a stubborn and persistent foe, he led his force
into a desperate battle against tremendous odds, directing close-range
operations against the invading enemy until he himself was killed in the
furious bombardment by their superior firepower. On each of these occasions
his dauntless initiative, inspiring leadership and judicious foresight
in a crisis of grave responsibility contributed decisively to the rout
of a powerful invasion fleet and to the consequent frustration of a formidable
Japanese offensive. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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