Ensign Francis Charles Flaherty, a sailor in the U.S. Naval Reserve, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously 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. Oklahoma. Flaherty was 22 years old.
Flaherty was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 6, 1946, 4 years after the action — presented to his Brother.
Flaherty was born on March 15, 1919 in Charlotte, Eaton County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Michigan. He is buried at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte, Michigan. His medal is held by Michigan Heroes Museum, Frankenmuth, MI.
Flaherty is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 112 credited to Michigan.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous devotion to duty and extraordinary courage and complete disregard of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. When it was seen that the U.S.S. Oklahoma was going to capsize and the order was given to abandon ship, Ens. Flaherty remained in a turret, holding a flashlight so the remainder of the turret crew could see to escape, thereby sacrificing his own life.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (December 7, 1941).
- Age at death: 22
- Resting place: Maple Hill Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →
Timeline
- March 15, 1919Born in Charlotte, Eaton County, Michigan
- December 7, 1941Act of valor — Pearl Harbor, Hawaii TerritoryAge 22. U.S.S. Oklahoma Killed in action.
- March 6, 1946Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyPresented to his Brother
- Resting placeMaple Hill CemeteryCharlotte, Michigan
Biography
Francis Charles Flaherty (March 15, 1919 – December 7, 1941) was an officer in the United States Naval Reserve and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for helping his crewmates escape the sinking USS Oklahoma (BB-37) at the expense of his own life, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
From the Wikipedia article “Francis C. Flaherty”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- USS Flaherty — destroyer escort
Further reading
- James Richard Ward: Pearl Harbor Herocmohs.org · 2023
- 80 years after his death at Pearl Harbor, Medal of Honor recipient will be laid to rest in Charlotte, Mich.lansingstatejournal.com · 2021
