Posted on 12/07/2023 7:36:29 AM PST by Bull Snipe
1941: The following personnel were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Japanese attack on the Hawaiian Islands.
Capt. Mervyn S. Bennion, USS West Virginia BB48
Ens. Francis C. Flaherty, USS Oklahoma BB37
BMC Edwin J. Hill USS, Nevada BB36
LCDR Samuel G. Fuqua, USS Arizona BB39
RADM Isaac C. Kidd, BatDiv 1, aboard USS Arizona BB39
Ens. Herbert C. Jones, USS California BB44
AOC John W. Finn, VP14 at NAS Kaneohe Bay
RMC Thomas J. Reeves, USS California BB44
LCDR Donald K. Ross, USS Nevada BB36
MM1 Robert R. Scott, USS California BB44
CWT Peter Tomich, USS Utah, BB31
Capt. Franklin V. Vallenburgh, USS Arizona BB39
Gunner Jackson C. Pharris, USS California BB44
S1c James R. Ward, USS Oklahoma BB37
CDR Cassin Young, USS Vestal AR4
1st Lt. USMC George H Cannon, Bat H 6th Defense Battalion, Midway Island
My father was on the Solace. Eye witness to the whole attack,
Said they had to stack the bodies in the hallways like cord wood.
It should be noted that black sailor Doris Miller received the Navy Cross at Pearl Harbor. He was a mess attendant (a cook). From Wikipedia:
“Miller helped carry wounded sailors to safety during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He then manned an anti-aircraft gun and, despite no prior training in gunnery, shot down between four and six enemy planes.”
Some folks say he should have received the Medal of Honor, but the Navy wasn’t all that enlightened back in those days. Who knows? Maybe race had everything to do with it. Maybe race had nothing to do with it.
Miller was killed in action in 1943.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Miller
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