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on December 17, 1907, he earned the Medal of Honor during World War II in April 1942 at Makassar, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies.

My grandfather, Real Admiral, Richard N Antrim:

He was serving as Executive Officer of the USS Pope which was sunk by the Japanese. He was the senior officer among the 150 members of the crew who survived the sinking and assumed command of the group. He organized the men and carefully distributed the meager remaining rations. Under his direction, all of his command survived until a Japanese destroyer pulled them from the sea a week later.

He won the Nation’s highest award for valor for his action in saving the life of a fellow prisoner of war in a Japanese prison camp in April of 1942. President Harry Truman made the presentation in 1947.

The Admiral, then a Lieutenant, was cited for acting in behalf of a Navy officer “who was subjected to a vicious clubbing by a frenzied Japanese guard.” The citation said Lieutenant Antrim attempted to quiet the guard and finally persuaded him to discuss the charges.

The citation read: “With the entire Japanese force assembled and making extraordinary preparations for the threatened beating, and with the tension heightened by 2,700 Allied prisoners rapidly closing in, Commander Antrim gallantly stepped forward and indicated to the perplexed guards that he would take the remainder of the punishment, throwing the Japanese completely off balance in their amazement and eliciting a roar of acclaim from the suddenly inspired Allied prisoners.

“By his fearless leadership and valiant concern for the welfare of another, he not only saved the life of a fellow officer and stunned the Japanese into sparing his own life, own also brought about a new respect for American officers and men and a great improvement in the camp living conditions.”