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Source: #271 John A. Lang, Jr. Papers 

Staff Person: Lynette Lundin 

Description: 

John Albert Lang, Jr. (1910-1974) was born in Carthage, N.C. He served as an aide to Congressman Charles B. Deane and Robert E. Jones. He was the Deputy for the Reserves and was an assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force.  He was connected to ECU with External Affairs. Later he was appointed to NC Department of Military & Veterans’ Affairs. This image can be found among his papers. The photograph is signed, “The U.S.S. Lang DD-399. To Mr. John A. Lang from Felix Johnson, Rear Admiral U.S.N., the first Commanding officer, With all good wishes.” (John A. Lang Jr., was not related to the namesake of the ship.) Lang received this photograph from Rear Admiral Felix L. Johnson, in 1945.

The ship was named for John Lang, a sailor on board the American ship the USS Wasp (1807 sloop of war, 18 guns) who led his fellow seamen to victory in a battle in Oct of 1812, against the British ship HMS Frolic. It was a short-lived victory because the British ship the HMS Poictiers (1809, 74-gun) later captured both ships.

Posted by Lynette Lundin under East Carolina Manuscript Collection, photographs and Tags: John Lang, maritime history, ships, United States Navy, World War II