Commander Bruce McCandless, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry between November 12 and 13, 1942 in Iron Bottom Sound, Savo Island, Solomon Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. San Francisco. McCandless was 31 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 12, 1942. He later rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.
McCandless was born on August 12, 1911 in Washington. His Medal of Honor is credited to Colorado. McCandless died on January 24, 1968, at the age of 56. He is buried at U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.
McCandless is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 24 credited to Colorado.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and exceptionally distinguished service above and beyond the call of duty as communication officer of the U.S.S. San Francisco in combat with enemy Japanese forces in the battle off Savo Island, 12-13 November 1942. In the midst of a violent night engagement, the fire of a determined and desperate enemy seriously wounded Lt. Comdr. McCandless and rendered him unconscious, killed or wounded the admiral in command, his staff, the captain of the ship, the navigator, and all other personnel on the navigating and signal bridges. Faced with the lack of superior command upon his recovery, and displaying superb initiative, he promptly assumed command of the ship and ordered her course and gunfire against an overwhelmingly powerful force. With his superiors in other vessels unaware of the loss of their admiral, and challenged by his great responsibility, Lt. Comdr. McCandless boldly continued to engage the enemy and to lead our column of following vessels to a great victory. Largely through his brilliant seamanship and great courage, the U.S.S. San Francisco was brought back to port, saved to fight again in the service of her country.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
In the midst of a violent night engagement, the fire of a determined and desperate enemy seriously wounded Lt. Comdr. McCandless and rendered him unconscious, killed or wounded the admiral in command, his staff, the captain of the ship, the navigator, and all other personnel on the navigating and signal bridges.
- Age at death: 56
- Resting place: U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Bruce McCandless received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Severn School, United States Naval Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
- Born: Washington, D.C. — map
- Died: Washington, D.C. — map
- Buried: United States Naval Academy Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Colorado →
Timeline
- August 12, 1911Born in Washington
- November 12 - 13, 1942Act of valor — Iron Bottom Sound, Savo Island, Solomon IslandsAge 31. U.S.S. San Francisco
- December 12, 1942Medal of Honor presented
- January 24, 1968DiedAge 56.
- Resting placeU.S. Naval Academy CemeteryAnnapolis, Maryland
Biography
Bruce McCandless I (August 12, 1911 – January 24, 1968) was an officer of United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor during World War II for his heroism on board USS San Francisco during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942. He retired with the rank of rear admiral. McCandless was the father of NASA astronaut Captain Bruce McCandless II, USN (Ret). Additionally, Admiral McCandless was the great-grandson of David Colbert McCanles of the Rock Creek Station, Nebraska, shoot-out with Wild Bill Hickok. After that incident, the McCanles family changed their name to McCandless and moved to Florence, Colorado.
From the Wikipedia article “Bruce McCandless”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
