World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Born in in Beverly, Kansas, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1929 and retired a Captain in 1956. During the attack on the Fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he served as Warrant Officer onboard the battleship USS NEVADA (BB 36). When his station in the forward dynamo room became untenable due to smoke, steam and heat, he ordered his men to leave. He remained to perform all the duties himself until blinded and unconscious. Upon being rescued, he returned to secure the dynamo room and proceeded to the after dynamo room. There he was later again rendered unconscious by exhaustion but recovered to return to his station, where he remained until directed to abandon it. On December 7, 1991, he attended 50th Anniversary ceremonies at Pearl Harbor during which a memorial was dedicated to his old ship, USS Nevada. He died at his home in Bremerton, Washington 6 months later. On June 28, 1997, the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71) was commissioned in his honor.
World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Born in in Beverly, Kansas, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1929 and retired a Captain in 1956. During the attack on the Fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he served as Warrant Officer onboard the battleship USS NEVADA (BB 36). When his station in the forward dynamo room became untenable due to smoke, steam and heat, he ordered his men to leave. He remained to perform all the duties himself until blinded and unconscious. Upon being rescued, he returned to secure the dynamo room and proceeded to the after dynamo room. There he was later again rendered unconscious by exhaustion but recovered to return to his station, where he remained until directed to abandon it. On December 7, 1991, he attended 50th Anniversary ceremonies at Pearl Harbor during which a memorial was dedicated to his old ship, USS Nevada. He died at his home in Bremerton, Washington 6 months later. On June 28, 1997, the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71) was commissioned in his honor.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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