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Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Makassar,
Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, April 1942. Entered service at: Indiana.
Birth: 17 December 1907, Peru, Ind. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry
and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty
while interned as a prisoner of war of the enemy Japanese in the city of
Makassar, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, in April 1942. Acting instantly
on behalf of a naval officer who was subjected to a vicious clubbing by
a frenzied Japanese guard venting his insane wrath upon the helpless prisoner,
Comdr. (then Lt.) Antrim boldly intervened, attempting to quiet the guard
and finally persuading him to discuss the charges against the officer.
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, Comdr. Antrim courageously appealed to the
fanatic enemy, risking his own life in a desperate effort to mitigate the
punishment. When the other had been beaten unconscious by 15 blows of a
hawser and was repeatedly kicked by 3 soldiers to a point beyond which
he could not survive, Comdr. 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 but also brought about a new respect for American officers
and men and a great improvement in camp living conditions. His heroic conduct
throughout reflects the highest credit upon Comdr. Antrim and the U.S.
Naval Service.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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