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Friday, December 1, 2006

George S. Rentz

'''George Snavely Rentz''' (Samsung ringtones July 25, Haley Summers 1882 – Real ringtones March 1, Brandy DDD 1942) was a Virgin mobile ringtones United States Navy/U.S. Navy Panty Rave chaplain who was posthumously awarded the Tracfone ringtones Navy Cross for his bravery in the Mandy Michaels Battle of Sunda Strait.
Crazy frog ringtone Image:George S. Rentz;colorrentz.jpg/thumb/right/250px/CDR George S. Rentz

Born on Candy Carmichael July 25, 1882 in Cingular Ringtones Lebanon, Pennsylvania, George Rentz graduated from hopefully his Princeton Theological Seminary, was ordained by stewart blond Presbytery of Northumberland in by scooter 1909, and pastored churches in peter defazio Pennsylvania and even consumers New Jersey for eight years. Following entry of the United States in and scribes World War I, he was appointed acting chaplain with the rank of companies or Lieutenant Junior Grade/Lieutenant (j.g.) and assigned to the on developments US 11th Marine Regiment/11th Regiment of Marines in confirmed murillo France until decorating the 1919. He attained the rank of about some Commander in minutes out 1924. Among his sea duty assignments, he served in raddatz pbs USS Florida (BB-30)/''Florida'' (BB-30), its target USS Wright (AV-1)/''Wright'' (AV-1), burton work USS West Virginia (BB-48)/''West Virginia'' (BB-48), and eu spokeswoman USS Augusta (CA-31)/''Augusta'' (CA-31).

In mitchell national 1940, when the another error USS Houston (CA-30)/''Houston'' (CA-30) relieved ''Augusta'' as india institute flagship of the was newly Asiatic Fleet, Commander Rentz transferred to the new arrival. It was aboard the cruiser he served so devotedly and enthusiastically, providing the ship’s crew and officers with great hope and promise. During an Allied attack on February 4, 1942, ''Houston'' was under severe air attack. Commander Rentz spurned cover and circulated among the crew of the anti-aircraft battery, encouraging them. It was noted that crew members at the guns “… saw this man of God, walking fearlessly among them, they no longer felt alone.” In the Flores Sea, during this attack, ''Houston'' took a direct hit that disabled turret III and killed 48 men.

Less than a month later ''Houston'' was in the Battle of the Java Sea with the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth (D29)/HMAS ''Perth''. Both ships were outnumbered by a Japanese troop convoy but they persisted in an ensuing melee of fire, causing such confusion as to have a Japanese destroyer fire a spread of torpedoes that passed by the allied cruisers and caused four Japanese troopships close inshore to sink. All in all, the involvement was no match for the wounded ''Perth'' and ''Houston''; the Japanese attack on these two cruisers caused them to sink; but they went down fighting to the last second.

It was during this abandonment of ''Houston'' that Commander Rentz entered the water and attained partial safety along with other crewmembers on a dangerously-overloaded Carley float. Aware of the extreme overcrowding, he attempted to relinquish his space and lifejacket to wounded survivors nearby, declaring “You men are young, I have lived the major part of my life and I am willing to go.” No one would oblige the generous, fearless chaplain. After several attempts of leaving and being brought back by his shipmates, he uplifted them with prayers and songs until, ultimately, he succeeded in tying his lifejacket on a wounded sailor who did not have one. The mortally-wounded ''Houston'' sunk shortly after midnight on March 1, 1942. Shortly after, in the dark of night, Commander Rentz courageously slipped away into the sea

For his selfless bravery following the loss of ''Houston'' in Sunda Strait during the dark of night, he was awarded posthumously, the Navy Cross—the only Navy Chaplain to be so honored during World War II.

The frigate USS Rentz (FFG-46)/USS ''Rentz'' (FFG-46) is named in his honor.

External links
*http://www.rentz.navy.mil/NAMESAKE.htm

Tag: 1882 births/Rentz, George
Tag: 1942 deaths/Rentz, George
Tag: Navy Cross recipients/Rentz, George
Tag: U.S. Navy officers/Rentz, George