Warrant Machinist Donald Kirby Ross, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory during World War II. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Nevada. Ross was 30 years old.
16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 18, 1942. Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, presented by Adm. Chester W. Nimitz. He later rose to the rank of Captain.
Ross was born on December 8, 1910 in Beverly, Lincoln County, Kansas. His Medal of Honor is credited to Denver, Denver County, Colorado. Ross died on May 27, 1992 in Port Orchard, Washington, at the age of 81. He was buried at sea.
Ross 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 distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage, and disregard for his own life during the attack on the Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. When his station in the forward dynamo room of the U.S.S. Nevada became almost untenable due to smoke, steam, and heat, Machinist Ross forced his men to leave that station and performed all the duties himself until blinded and unconscious. Upon being rescued and resuscitated, he returned and secured the forward dynamo room and proceeded to the after dynamo room where he was later again rendered unconscious by exhaustion. Again recovering consciousness he returned to his station where he remained until directed to abandon it.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
How he died
- Manner of death: natural causes
- Cause of death: myocardial infarction
- Age at death: 81
- Resting place: Buried at Sea
Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Donald Kirby Ross received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Colorado →
Timeline
- December 8, 1910Born in Beverly, Lincoln County, Kansas
- December 7, 1941Act of valor — Pearl Harbor, Hawaii TerritoryAge 30. U.S.S. Nevada
- April 18, 1942Medal of Honor presentedPearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, presented by Adm. Chester W. Nimitz
- May 27, 1992Died in Port Orchard, WashingtonAge 81.
- Resting placeBuried at sea
Biography
Donald Kirby Ross (December 8, 1910 – May 27, 1992) was an officer of the United States Navy who received the first Medal of Honor of World War II. This award was made for his actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
From the Wikipedia article “Donald K. Ross”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- USS Ross — guided missile destroyer
