FINN, JOHN WILLIAM - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Naval
Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
Entered service at:
California. Birth: 23 July 1909, Los Angeles, Calif. 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.
Browse Records by Era / War / Subject |
