▁language ▁of ▁his ▁c itation , ▁" although ▁mort ally ▁wounded ▁by ▁the ▁fragments ▁of ▁a ▁burst ing ▁bomb , ▁he ▁displayed ▁out standing ▁courage ▁and ▁a ▁loyal ▁determ ination ▁to ▁keep ▁his ▁gun ▁in ▁action ▁despite ▁his ▁injured ▁condition , ▁and ▁val i antly ▁remained ▁at ▁his ▁station ▁" loading ▁shell s ▁into ▁f use ▁p ots " ▁until ▁he ▁col lapsed ▁on ▁the ▁deck ." ▁ ▁Award ed ▁the ▁Navy ▁Cross ▁The ▁str icken ▁" L ady ▁Lex " ▁was ▁finally ▁s unk ▁by ▁friendly ▁ships , ▁and ▁Private ▁R uther ford ▁was ▁post hum ously ▁awarded ▁the ▁Navy ▁Cross ▁for ▁his ▁hero ism . ▁ ▁Names ake ▁USS ▁J esse ▁R uther ford ▁( DE - 3 4 7 ) ▁was ▁named ▁in ▁his ▁honor . ▁She ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁by ▁Cons olid ated ▁Ste el ▁Cor p ., ▁Orange , ▁Texas , ▁November ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 9 4 3 ; ▁launched ▁January ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 1 9 4 4 ; ▁spons ored ▁by ▁Mrs . ▁Mary ▁R uther ford , ▁mother ▁of ▁Private ▁R uther ford ; ▁and ▁commission ed ▁May ▁ 3 1 , ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁L t . ▁Com dr . ▁B . ▁M . ▁Henry ▁in ▁command . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁J esse ▁R uther ford , ▁Jr . ▁ ▁Category : 1 9 2 2 ▁birth s ▁Category : 1 9 4 2 ▁death s ▁Category : Un ited ▁States ▁Mar ines ▁Category