Changes

Following that attack, Enterprise and her few sister carriers were the principal force which stood between Japan and complete mastery of the [[Pacific]]. An unsuccessful search for the Japanese attacking force began the carrier's wartime saga and was quickly followed by duty protecting Allied convoys and by air strikes against Japanese islands in the Central Pacific. Next, she accompanied Hornet (CV-8) as that ship carried Army B-25 bombers for Lt. Col. Doolittle's air raid against Tokyo. Although Enterprise next raced toward the Southwestern Pacific to help protect Allied shipping lanes to Australia, she was too late to join Lexington (CV-2) and Yorktown (CV-5) in the Battle of the Coral Sea. However, early in June, she played a major role in the Battle of Midway during which American forces decisively defeated a major enemy task force.

Following that attack, Enterprise and her few sister carriers were the principal force which stood between Japan and complete mastery of the [[Pacific]]. An unsuccessful search for the Japanese attacking force began the carrier's wartime saga and was quickly followed by duty protecting Allied convoys and by air strikes against Japanese islands in the Central Pacific. Next, she accompanied Hornet (CV-8) as that ship carried Army B-25 bombers for Lt. Col. Doolittle's air raid against Tokyo. Although Enterprise next raced toward the Southwestern Pacific to help protect Allied shipping lanes to Australia, she was too late to join Lexington (CV-2) and Yorktown (CV-5) in the Battle of the Coral Sea. However, early in June, she played a major role in the Battle of Midway during which American forces decisively defeated a major enemy task force.

On 15 June 1942—two days after his ship returned to Pearl Harbor and more than a week after the victory at Midway— Acree was promoted to lieutenant, junior grade. Exactly one month later, Enterprise headed once more for the South Pacific and the first major Allied offensive operations of the war in the Pacific, the invasion of the Solomon Islands. Planes from the carrier supported the marines who landed on Guadalcanal and Tulagi and continued to help the leathernecks until Japanese dive bombers seriously damaged Enterprise in the battle of the Eastern Solomons on the afternoon of 24 August. Rapid, skillful, and courageous damage control parties—one of which was led by Lt. (jg.) Acree—extinguished the fires, checked the flooding, and patched the ship sufficiently to enable her to make her way painfully back to Pearl Harbor for repairs.

On 15 June 1942—two days after his ship returned to Pearl Harbor and more than a week after the victory at Midway— Acree was promoted to lieutenant, junior grade. Exactly one month later, Enterprise headed once more for the South Pacific and the first major Allied offensive operations of the war in the Pacific, the invasion of the Solomon Islands. Planes from the carrier supported the marines who landed on Guadalcanal and Tulagi and continued to help the leathernecks until Japanese dive bombers seriously damaged Enterprise in the [[Battle of the Eastern Solomons]] on the afternoon of 24 August. Rapid, skillful, and courageous damage control parties—one of which was led by Lt. (jg.) Acree—extinguished the fires, checked the flooding, and patched the ship sufficiently to enable her to make her way painfully back to Pearl Harbor for repairs.

Back in full fighting trim by mid-October, the veteran carrier once more headed for the Southwestern Pacific. There, in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October, she helped fight off a major Japanese effort to assist their troops on Guadalcanal. The cost of repelling this enemy thrust was great. Hornet was sunk, and Enterprise suffered three highly destructive bomb hits. Again, Acree led one of the damage control parties which saved his ship, but he perished in the effort.

Back in full fighting trim by mid-October, the veteran carrier once more headed for the Southwestern Pacific. There, in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October, she helped fight off a major Japanese effort to assist their troops on Guadalcanal. The cost of repelling this enemy thrust was great. Hornet was sunk, and Enterprise suffered three highly destructive bomb hits. Again, Acree led one of the damage control parties which saved his ship, but he perished in the effort.