William Finnie Cates was born on April 30, 1916 to William E. and Ruby E. Wiseman Cates of Drummonds. He married Juanita Tate on June 14, 1940 in Tipton County and on Jan. 21, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves. A seaman second class, he was killed on November 12, 1942, when a Japanese torpedo plane he kept under fire while refusing to leave his station on the USS San Francisco, crashed into the ship near the Solomon Islands. He was buried at sea and memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.
Cates also was awarded the Purple Heart, Pacific Theater Ribbon, and a Presidential Unit Citation. The USS Cates (DE-763), a U.S. Navy Destroyer was named for him and was christened in his honor by his aunt, Mrs. Pearl Dyer on July 4, 1943.
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to William Finnie Cates (06401733), Seaman Second Class, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in action against the enemy while serving on board the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38), during an engagement with Japanese naval forces near Savo Island in the Solomons on the night of on November 12 and 13 1942. His grim perseverance and relentless devotion to duty in the face of certain death were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave up his own life in the defense of his country.
Navy Cross Citation
