Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor,
Hawaiian Islands, North Pacific
Awards are in ship and name order
7
December 1941 - FUQUA, SAMUEL GLENN, Captain, U.S. Navy
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 (battleship) 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.
7
December 1941 - *KIDD, ISAAC CAMPBELL, Rear Admiral, U.S.
Navy
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.
7
December 1941 - *VAN VALKENBURGH, FRANKLIN, Captain, U.S.
Navy
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.
7
December 1941 - *JONES, HERBERT CHARPOIT, Ensign, U.S.
Naval Reserve
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 (battleship)
after the mechanical hoists were put out of action
when he was fatally wounded by a bomb explosion. When
two 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."
7
December 1941 - PHARRIS, JACKSON CHARLES, Lieutenant,
U.S. Navy,
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.
7
December 1941 - *REEVES, THOMAS JAMES, Radio Electrician
(Warrant Officer) U.S. Navy
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.
7
December 1941 - *SCOTT, ROBERT R., Machinist's Mate First
Class, U.S. Navy
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.''
7
December 1941 - *HILL, EDWIN JOSEPH, Chief Boatswain,
U.S. Navy
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 (battleship)
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.
7
December 1941 - ROSS, DONALD KIRBY, Machinist, U.S. Navy
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.
7
December 1941 - *FLAHERTY, FRANCIS C., Ensign, U.S. Naval
Reserve
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 (battleship) 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.
7
December 1941 - *WARD, JAMES RICHARD, Seaman First Class,
U.S. Navy
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.
7
December 1941 - *TOMICH, PETER, Chief Watertender, U.S.
Navy.
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 (target ship, ex-battleship),
until he saw that all boilers were secured and all
fireroom personnel had left their stations, and by so
doing lost his own life
7
December 1941 - YOUNG, CASSIN, Commander, U.S. Navy
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 (repair ship), 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 two 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.
7
December 1941 - *BENNION, MERVYN SHARP, Captain, U.S.
Navy
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 (battleship),
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.
7
December 1941 - FINN, JOHN WILLIAM, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
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.
Japanese Attack on Midway Island,
North Pacific
7
December 1941 - *CANNON, GEORGE HAM, First Lieutenant,
U.S. Marine Corps.
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.
Japanese Invasion of the
Philippines, Western Pacific
7
December 1941 to 10 April 1942 - BULKELEY, JOHN DUNCAN,
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy.
Citation: For
extraordinary heroism, distinguished service, and
conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of
duty as commander of Motor
Torpedo Boat Squadron 3, in Philippine
waters during the period 7 December 1941 to 10 April
1942. The remarkable achievement of Lt. Comdr.
Bulkeley's command in damaging or destroying a
notable number of Japanese enemy planes, surface
combatant and merchant ships, and in dispersing
landing parties and land-based enemy forces during
the four months and eight days of operation without
benefit of repairs, overhaul, or maintenance
facilities for his squadron, is believed to be
without precedent in this type of warfare. His
dynamic forcefulness and daring in offensive action,
his brilliantly planned and skillfully executed
attacks, supplemented by a unique resourcefulness and
ingenuity, characterize him as an outstanding leader
of men and a gallant and intrepid seaman. These
qualities coupled with a complete disregard for his
own personal safety reflect great credit upon him and
the Naval Service.
Japanese Invasion of Wake Island,
North Pacific
8
to 23 December 1941 - *ELROD, HENRY TALMAGE, Captain,
U.S. Marine Corps.
Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty while
attached to Marine Fighting Squadron 211,
during action against enemy Japanese land, surface
and aerial units at Wake Island, 8 to 23 December
1941. Engaging vastly superior forces of enemy
bombers and warships on 9 and 12 December, Capt.
Elrod shot down two of a flight of 22 hostile planes
and, executing repeated bombing and strafing runs at
extremely low altitude and close range, succeeded in
inflicting deadly damage upon a large Japanese
vessel, thereby sinking the first major warship (destroyer
"Kisaragi", the other "Hayate"
was sunk by the shore batteries) to be destroyed
by small caliber bombs delivered from a fighter-type
aircraft. When his plane was disabled by hostile fire
and no other ships were operative, Capt. Elrod
assumed command of one flank of the line set up in
defiance of the enemy landing and, conducting a
brilliant defense, enabled his men to hold their
positions and repulse intense hostile fusillades to
provide covering fire for unarmed ammunition
carriers. Capturing an automatic weapon during one
enemy rush in force, he gave his own firearm to one
of his men and fought on vigorously against the
Japanese. Responsible in a large measure for the
strength of his sector's gallant resistance, on 23
December, Capt. Elrod led his men with bold
aggressiveness until he fell, mortally wounded. His
superb skill as a pilot, daring leadership and
unswerving devotion to duty distinguished him among
the defenders of Wake Island, and his valiant conduct
reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S.
Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his
country.