This post is appearing at 0200 Hawaiian Time. The first Japanese aircraft struck Hawai'i at 0748 local, 1248 Eastern.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a military disaster of epic proportions. It isn't hard to imagine, but it could have been worse (more on that later today). 2,402 Americans lost their lives, 1,247 were wounded. Even in defeat, the courage and valor of the American fighting man shone through the darkness.
- 55 received the Navy Cross or Distinguished Service Cross
- 53 received the Silver Star
Today, now, we recognize and honor all sixteen.
From Medal of Honor Citations for World War II (A-F):
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Navy. Born: 5
May 1887, Vernon, Utah. Appointed from: Utah. Citation: For conspicuous devotion
to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life, above
and beyond the call of duty, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by
Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. As Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. West
Virginia, after being mortally wounded, Capt. Bennion evidenced apparent concern
only in fighting and saving his ship, and strongly protested against being
carried from the bridge.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine
Corps. Born: 5 November 1915, Webster Groves, Mo. Entered service at: Michigan.
Citation: For distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary
courage and disregard of his own condition during the bombardment of Sand
Island, Midway Islands, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. 1st Lt. Cannon,
Battery Commander of Battery H, 6th Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, U.S.
Marine Corps, was at his command post when he was mortally wounded by enemy
shellfire. He refused to be evacuated from his post until after his men who had
been wounded by the same shell were evacuated, and directed the reorganization
of his command post until forcibly removed. As a result of his utter disregard
of his own condition he died from loss of blood.
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Place
and date: Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
Entered service at: California. Born: 23 July 1909, Los Angeles, Calif.
Citation: For extraordinary heroism distinguished service, and devotion above
and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on
the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, on 7 December 1941, Lt. Finn promptly
secured and manned a .50-caliber machinegun mounted on an instruction stand in a
completely exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy
machinegun strafing fire. Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to
man this gun and to return the enemy's fire vigorously and with telling effect
throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard
for his own personal safety. It was only by specific orders that he was
persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention. Following first aid
treatment, although obviously suffering much pain and moving with great
difficulty, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the
rearming of returning planes. His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this
action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Rank and organization: Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve.
Born: 15 March 1919, Charlotte, Mich. Accredited to: Michigan. Citation: For
conspicuous devotion to duty and extraordinary courage and complete disregard of
his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, during the attack on the Fleet
in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. When it was seen that
the U.S.S. Oklahoma was going to capsize and the order was given to abandon
ship, Ens. Flaherty remained in a turret, holding a flashlight so the remainder
of the turret crew could see to escape, thereby sacrificing his own life.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Navy, U.S.S.
Arizona. Place and date: Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
Entered service at: Laddonia, Mo. Born: 15 October 1899, Laddonia Mo. Citation:
For distinguished conduct in action, outstanding heroism, and utter disregard of
his own safety above and beyond the call of duty during the attack on the Fleet
in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. Upon the commencement of
the attack, Lt. Comdr. Fuqua rushed to the quarterdeck of the U.S.S. Arizona to
which he was attached where he was stunned and knocked down by the explosion of
a large bomb which hit the guarterdeck, penetrated several decks, and started a
severe fire. Upon regaining consciousness, he began to direct the fighting of
the fire and the rescue of wounded and injured personnel. Almost immediately
there was a tremendous explosion forward, which made the ship appear to rise out
of the water, shudder, and settle down by the bow rapidly. The whole forward
part of the ship was enveloped in flames which were spreading rapidly, and
wounded and burned men were pouring out of the ship to the quarterdeck. Despite
these conditions, his harrowing experience, and severe enemy bombing and
strafing, at the time, Lt. Comdr. Fuqua continued to direct the fighting of
fires in order to check them while the wounded and burned could be taken from
the ship and supervised the rescue of these men in such an amazingly calm and
cool manner and with such excellent judgment that it inspired everyone who saw
him and undoubtedly resulted in the saving of many lives. After realizing the
ship could not be saved and that he was the senior surviving officer aboard, he
directed it to be abandoned, but continued to remain on the quarterdeck and
directed abandoning ship and rescue of personnel until satisfied that all
personnel that could be had been saved, after which he left his ship with the
boatload. The conduct of Lt. Comdr. Fuqua was not only in keeping with the
highest traditions of the naval service but characterizes him as an outstanding
leader of men.
Rank and organization: Chief Boatswain, U.S. Navy.
Born: 4 October 1894, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. Citation:
For distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage,
and disregard of his own safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor,
by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. During the height of the strafing and
bombing, Chief Boatswain Hill led his men of the linehandling details of the
U.S.S. Nevada to the quays, cast off the lines and swam back to his ship. Later,
while on the forecastle, attempting to let go the anchors, he was blown
overboard and killed by the explosion of several bombs.
Rank and organization: Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve.
Born: 1 December 1918, Los Angeles, Calif. Accredited to: California. Citation:
For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard
of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, during the attack on the
Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. Ens. Jones
organized and led a party, which was supplying ammunition to the antiaircraft
battery of the U.S.S. California after the mechanical hoists were put out of
action when he was fatally wounded by a bomb explosion. When 2 men attempted to
take him from the area which was on fire, he refused to let them do so, saying
in words to the effect, "Leave me alone! I am done for. Get out of here before
the magazines go off."
Rank and organization: Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy. Born:
26 March 1884, Cleveland, Ohio. Appointed from: Ohio. Citation: For conspicuous
devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and complete disregard of his own life,
during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December
1941. Rear Adm. Kidd immediately went to the bridge and, as Commander Battleship
Division One, courageously discharged his duties as Senior Officer Present
Afloat until the U.S.S. Arizona, his Flagship, blew up from magazine explosions
and a direct bomb hit on the bridge which resulted in the loss of his life.
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, U.S.S.
California. Place and date: Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
Entered service at: California. Born: 26 June 1912, Columbus, Ga. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond
the call of duty while attached to the U.S.S. California during the surprise
enemy Japanese aerial attack on Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December
1941. In charge of the ordnance repair party on the third deck when the first
Japanese torpedo struck almost directly under his station, Lt. (then Gunner)
Pharris was stunned and severely injured by the concussion which hurled him to
the overhead and back to the deck. Quickly recovering, he acted on his own
initiative to set up a hand-supply ammunition train for the antiaircraft guns.
With water and oil rushing in where the port bulkhead had been torn up from the
deck, with many of the remaining crewmembers overcome by oil fumes, and the ship
without power and listing heavily to port as a result of a second torpedo hit,
Lt. Pharris ordered the shipfitters to counterflood. Twice rendered unconscious
by the nauseous fumes and handicapped by his painful injuries, he persisted in
his desperate efforts to speed up the supply of ammunition and at the same time
repeatedly risked his life to enter flooding compartments and drag to safety
unconscious shipmates who were gradually being submerged in oil. By his
inspiring leadership, his valiant efforts and his extreme loyalty to his ship
and her crew, he saved many of his shipmates from death and was largely
responsible for keeping the California in action during the attack. His heroic
conduct throughout this first eventful engagement of World War II reflects the
highest credit upon Lt. Pharris and enhances the finest traditions of the U.S.
Naval Service.
Rank and organization: Radio Electrician (Warrant
Officer) U.S. Navy. Born: 9 December 1895, Thomaston, Conn. Accredited to:
Connecticut. Citation: For distinguished conduct in the line of his profession,
extraordinary courage and disregard of his own safety during the attack on the
Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. After the
mechanized ammunition hoists were put out of action in the U.S.S. California,
Reeves, on his own initiative, in a burning passageway, assisted in the
maintenance of an ammunition supply by hand to the antiaircraft guns until he
was overcome by smoke and fire, which resulted in his death.
Rank and organization: Machinist, U.S. Navy, U.S.S.
Nevada. Place and date: Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
Entered service at: Denver, Colo. Born: 8 December 1910, Beverly, Kans.
Citation: For distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary
courage and disregard of his own life during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl
Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. When his
station in the forward dynamo room of the U.S.S. Nevada became almost untenable
due to smoke, steam, and heat, Machinist Ross forced his men to leave that
station and performed all the duties himself until blinded and unconscious. Upon
being rescued and resuscitated, he returned and secured the forward dynamo room
and proceeded to the after dynamo room where he was later again rendered
unconscious by exhaustion. Again recovering consciousness he returned to his
station where he remained until directed to abandon it.
Rank and organization: Machinist's Mate First Class,
U.S. Navy. Born: 13 July 1915, Massillon, Ohio. Accredited to Ohio. Citation:
For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and complete disregard
of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, during the attack on the
Fleet in Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. The compartment, in
the U.S.S. California, in which the air compressor, to which Scott was assigned
as his battle station, was flooded as the result of a torpedo hit. The remainder
of the personnel evacuated that compartment but Scott refused to leave, saying
words to the effect "This is my station and I will stay and give them air as
long as the guns are going.''
Rank and organization: Chief Watertender, U.S. Navy.
Born: 3 June 1893, Prolog, Austria. Accredited to: New Jersey. Citation: For
distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, and extraordinary courage
and disregard of his own safety, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor
by the Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. Although realizing that the ship was
capsizing, as a result of enemy bombing and torpedoing, Tomich remained at his
post in the engineering plant of the U.S.S. Utah, until he saw that all boilers
were secured and all fireroom personnel had left their stations, and by so doing
lost his own life.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Navy. Born: 5
April 1888, Minneapolis, Minn. Appointed from: Wisconsin. Citation: For
conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and complete disregard of
his own life, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor T.H., by Japanese
forces on 7 December 1941. As commanding officer of the U.S.S. Arizona, Capt.
Van Valkenburgh gallantly fought his ship until the U.S.S. Arizona blew up from
magazine explosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge which resulted in the
loss of his life.
Rank and organization: Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy.
Born: 10 September 1921, Springfield, Ohio. Entered service at: Springfield,
Ohio. Citation: For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and
complete disregard of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, during the
attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. When
it was seen that the U.S.S. Oklahoma was going to capsize and the order was
given to abandon ship, Ward remained in a turret holding a flashlight so the
remainder of the turret crew could see to escape, thereby sacrificing his own
life.
Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Born: 6
March 1894, Washington, D.C. Appointed from: Wisconsin. Other Navy award: Navy
Cross. Citation: For distinguished conduct in action, outstanding heroism and
utter disregard of his own safety, above and beyond the call of duty, as
commanding officer of the U.S.S. Vestal, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl
Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by enemy Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. Comdr.
Young proceeded to the bridge and later took personal command of the 3-inch
antiaircraft gun. When blown overboard by the blast of the forward magazine
explosion of the U.S.S. Arizona, to which the U.S.S. Vestal was moored, he swam
back to his ship. The entire forward part of the U.S.S. Arizona was a blazing
inferno with oil afire on the water between the 2 ships; as a result of several
bomb hits, the U.S.S. Vestal was afire in several places, was settling and
taking on a list. Despite severe enemy bombing and strafing at the time, and his
shocking experience of having been blown overboard, Comdr. Young, with extreme
coolness and calmness, moved his ship to an anchorage distant from the U.S.S.
Arizona, and subsequently beached the U.S.S. Vestal upon determining that such
action was required to save his ship.
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