John William Finn
John William Finn (born July 23, 1909 in Los Angeles , California - † May 27, 2010 in Chula Vista , California) was an American officer in the United States Navy and recipient of the Medal of Honor , the highest military honor in the United States .
Life
John William Finn joined the US Navy shortly before his seventeenth birthday in July 1926. Before the Second World War, the United States entered was doing Finn his service on several cruisers and aircraft carriers before it in December 1941 at the Naval Air Station at Kaneohe Bay ( Oahu , Hawaii was transferred), where he served as Chief Petty Officer (about hauptbootsmann ) was responsible for the maintenance of the weapons of a sea reconnaissance squadron . When the Japanese Navy attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941 , he fired a machine gun at the attacking aircraft from an uncovered position for over two hours, despite numerous wounds . After receiving poor medical care, he returned to the troops that same day and helped arm the remaining American aircraft. For his life-threatening mission, which went far beyond the fulfillment of military duties, Finn was awarded the highest military award in the United States, the Medal of Honor, on September 14, 1942, on board the USS Enterprise by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz .
Finn left the US Navy in September 1956 with the rank of lieutenant captain .
63 destroyers Arleigh Burke-class destroyer , USS John Finn (DDG-113) , was named after him.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Finn, John William |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American naval officer, Medal of Honor holder |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 23, 1909 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | los Angeles |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 27, 2010 |
| Place of death | Chula Vista |