Douglas Harold Fox, born 26 March 1905 in Walled Lake, Michigan, was graduated from the Naval Academy 3 June 1926. After service in various ships and shore stations, he was given command of the newly commissioned
Barton (DD 599) 29 May 1942. Lieutenant Commander Fox went down with his ship when she was torpedoed and sunk in the naval Battle of Guadalcanal 13 November 1942. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his contribution to the defeat of a superior enemy force in this battle, and was later awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross for earlier actions on 26 and 30 October and 3 November in which he had rescued downed aviators and survivors of
Hornet (CV 8) under hazardous conditions.
