TFH 12/7: Service Cross Awards from Pearl Harbor

Last year for the 70th Anniversary of the Japansese Attack on Pearl Harbor, I penned a blog post entitled "On the Darkest Day, Sixteen Shined" that spoke to the courage and sacrifice of the sixteen Medal of Honor recipients for their conspicuous valor during the attack.

Thanks to the Military Times' Hall of Valor, I have been able to identify fifty-eight American heroes who received either the Distinguished Service Cross (Army Air Forces) or the Navy Cross (Navy, Navy Reserve, and Marine Corps) for gallantry in action on December 7, 1941 on the Hawaiian Islands.

Please take a moment to read a few of the award citations for these brave men who showed the best the American fighting man can, even in defeat. Names preceded by an asterisk indicate the man was killed in action durin the Pearl Harbor attack. All awards are for the Navy Cross, save five indicated by "[DSC]" at the end.

• *Cpl William T. Anderson, USAAF; 19th Transportation Squadron, 24th Division [DSC]
• *CMC John A. Austin; Chief Carpenter, USS Oklahoma (BB-37)
• PhM2 Lionel H. Baker, USN; Corpsman, USS Vestal (AR-4)
• LT Gordon E. Bolser, USN; Pilot, Naval Amphibian Air Squadron, Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• BM Adolph M. Bothne, USN; Boat Coxswain, USS Oklahoma (BB-37)
• LCDR William P. Burford, USN; Commanding Officer, USS Monaghan (DD-354)
• *ENS Harold J. Christopher, USNR; USS Nevada (BB-36)
• PhM2 Ned B. Curtis, USN; Corpsman, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• *COX Edward C. Daly; Crew Member, USS Downes (DD-375)
• PFC Willard D. Darling, USMC; Marine Detachment, USS Oklahoma (BB-37)
• *ENS Frederick C. Davis, USNR; Anti-Aircraft Officer, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• LT Clarence E. Dickinson, Jr., USN; Pilot, Scouting Squadron SIX (VS-6), USS Enterprise (CV-6)
• GySgt Charles E. Douglas, USMC; Marine Detachment, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• Cpl Joseph R. Driskell, USMC; Marine Detachment, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• ENS Ernest H. Dunlap, Jr., USN; Spotter/Secondary Battery Officer, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• LTJG John M. Eaton, Jr., USNR; Ground Officer, Patrol Squadron TWENTY-ONE (VP-21), Naval Air Station Midway
• ENS John P. Edwards, USNR; Pilot, Utility Squadron ONE (VJ-1), Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• SSRC George D. Etcell, USN; Damage Control, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• BM1 William S. Fleming, USN; Gun Captain, USS California (BB-44)
• SN2 Louis G. Gombasy, USN; Main Battery Crew, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• AD1 Donald A. Graham, USN; Crew Member, USS Arizona (BB-39)
• Sgt Thomas E. Hailey, USMC; Marine Detachment, USS Oklahoma (BB-37)
• MMC Alfred L. Hansen, USN; Fuel Crew, Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• Cpl Harold R. Hazlewood, USMC; Battery H. SIXTH Marine Defense Battalion, Naval Air Station Midway
• ENS Allen J. Huttenberg, USNR; Anti-Aircraft Battery Officer, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• LCDR Solomon S. Isquith, USN; Commanding Officer, USS Utah (AG-16)
• CDR Jesse D. Jewell, USN; Medical Officer, USS California (BB-44)
• LT Draper L. Kauffman, USNR; Demolition/Explosive Ordnance Disposal
• *SSgt Doyle Kimmey, USAAF; 19th Transportation Squadron, 24th Division [DSC]
• ENS Nils R. Larson, USN; Pilot, Naval Amphibian Air Squadron, Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• FN2 Frederick C. Ley, Jr., USNR; Crewmember, USS Solace (AH-5)
• *Sergeant Stanley A. McLeod, USAAF; 19th Transportation Squadron, 24th Division [DSC]
• BM1 Paul J. McMurtry, USN; Main Battery Crew, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• RM2 Harry R. Mead, USN; Base Radio Station, Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• Matt1 Doris Miller, USN; Steward/Machine Gunner, USS West Virginia (BB-48)
• LTJG Jim D. Miller, USN; Turret III Officer, USS Arizona (BB-39)
• *SN1 Fred K. Moore, USN; Anti-Aircraft Crew, USS Arizona (BB-39)
• LCDR William W. Outerbridge, USN; Commanding Officer, USS Ward (DD-139)
• SN1 William W. Parker, USN; Anti-Aircraft Crew, USS Arizona (BB-39)
• Cpl Dale L. Peters, USMC; Battery H, SIXTH Marine Defense Battalion, Naval Air Station Midway
• RM2 Robert J. Peterson, USN; Machine Gunner, Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay
• CDR John S. Phillips, USN; Commanding Officer, USS Neosho (AO-23)
• LCDR Cecil D. Riggs, USN; Medical Officer, Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• LTJG James W. Robb, Jr., USN; Pilot, Naval Amphibian Air Squadron, Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• RM2 William R. Roberts, USN; Radioman/Gunner, Naval Amphibian Air Squadron, Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• ENS Wesley H. Ruth, USN; Pilot, Naval Amphibian Air Squadron, Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• ENS D. Arnold Singleton, USNR; Fuel Officer, Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• BM2 Harold F. Smith, USN; Boat Coxswain, USS Arizona (BB-39)
• YN1 James L. Snyder, USN; Bridge Phone Talker, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• ENS Joseph K. Taussig, Jr., USN; Anti-Aircraft Officer, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• 2nd Lt Kenneth M. Taylor, USAAF; 47th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group, HAWAIIAN Air Force [DSC]
• ENS Thomas H. Taylor, USN; Anti-Aircraft Officer, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• ENS Perry L. Teaff, USN; Pilot, Scouting Squadron SIX (VS-6), USS Enterprise (CV-6)
• AD2 Albert C. Thatcher, USN; Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor
• LCDR Francis J. Thomas, USNR; Acting Commanding Officer, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• ENS Robert E. Thomas, Jr., USN; Battery Officer, USS Nevada (BB-36)
• FM2 John B. Vaessen, USNR; Distribution Board Crew, USS Utah (AG-16)
• 2nd Lt George S. Welch, USAAF; 47th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group, HAWAIIAN Air Force [DSC]

Never Forget.

Much was lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, thanks to all the brave Americans who fought on that first day of World War II for the United States, what counts as a defeat can also be considered a victory.