Extracted from The Shreveport Times (Shreveport, LA)
Sunday, January 7, 1934

Commend Mansfield Man For Heroic Navy Service

Cavitt Walker Lucas Gets Commendation for His Rescue of Fellow-Seaman in Chinese Harbor

Mansfield, Jan. 6 (Special) -- It's a far cry from this placid southern town, parish seat of DeSoto, to Tsingtao in war-town China, but a Mansfield boy, Cavitt Walker Lucas, traveled halfway around the world in Uncle Sam's navy to perform an act of heroism at Tsingtao which has merited official commendation of the navy department at Washington.

It was in the murky waters of the inner harbor of the Chinese city last Sept. 3 that Lucas saved John Dean, sailor from Providence, R. I. from drowning. Both Lucas and Dean at the time were attached to the U. S. S. Houston, flagship of the Asiatic fleet.

For his heroism Lucas has just been rewarded with a letter of commendation from Secretary of the Navy Claude Swanson. "The navy department takes pleasure in commending you for the prompt and courageous action on this occasion, which undoubtedly saved the life of Dean," the citation reads.

Dean, a qualified swimmer, in some manner fell overboard, but was encumbered by his clothing and a raincoat and was unable to make the life buoy thrown to him. Lucas dived overboard to his assistance, and in spite of an ebb tide and a heavy sea kicked up by an approaching typhoon, swam to the life buoy, dragged it to Dean, and supported him until picked up well astern of the ship by a motor launch.

Lucas was born in Mansfield 24 years ago. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Lucas. Three sisters and two brothers also live in Mansfield. Young Lucas attended grade and public schools here and enlisted in the navy in Shreveport in March 1924.

After a year in the service he was assigned to duty on the aircraft carrier Lexington, and then assigned to the U. S. S. Houston when that ship was commissioned. After a "shakedown " cruise the Houston sailed to the Far East with Lucas aboard. He was then transferred to Shanghai, where he served for three years before returning to duty aboard the Houston. Lucas is now attached to the Houston, although the ship is in Puget Sound, Washington, for overhaul.

Lucas' father is shipping clerk at the Frost lumber mill here.