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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Navy

Franklin van Valkenburgh

Captain Franklin van Valkenburgh, Navy, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory during World War II.

World War II December 7, 1941Posthumous

Captain Franklin van Valkenburgh was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory during World War II. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Arizona. van Valkenburgh was 53 years old.

van Valkenburgh 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.

van Valkenburgh was born on April 5, 1888 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. His Medal of Honor is credited to Wisconsin. He is buried at Remains not recovered from USS Arizona.

van Valkenburgh is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.

★ Fire & Explosions at Sea★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and complete disregard of his own life, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. As commanding officer of the U.S.S. Arizona, Capt. Van Valkenburgh gallantly fought his ship until the U.S.S. Arizona blew up from magazine explosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge which resulted in the loss of his 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: 53
  • Resting place: Remains not recovered from USS Arizona

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I, World War II.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Minneapolis — map
  • Died: Pearl Harbor — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wisconsin →

Timeline

  1. April 5, 1888
    Born in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
  2. December 7, 1941
    Act of valor — Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory
    Age 53. U.S.S. Arizona Killed in action.
  3. Resting place
    Remains not recovered from USS Arizona

Biography

Franklin Van Valkenburgh (April 5, 1888 – December 7, 1941) was an American naval officer who served as the last captain of the USS Arizona (BB-39). He was killed when the Arizona exploded and sank during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

From the Wikipedia article “Franklin Van Valkenburgh”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

Also honored for actions on December 7, 1941

Mervyn Sharp Bennion Captain · Navy World War II · 1941 ✦ John Duncan Bulkeley Lieutenant · Navy World War II · 1941 George Ham Cannon First Lieutenant · Marine Corps World War II · 1941 ✦ John William Finn Lieutenant · Navy World War II · 1941 Francis Charles Flaherty Ensign · Navy World War II · 1941 ✦ Samuel Glenn Fuqua Captain · Navy World War II · 1941 Edwin Joseph Hill Chief Boatswain · Navy World War II · 1941 ✦ Herbert Charpoit Jones Ensign · Navy World War II · 1941 ✦ Isaac Campbell Kidd Rear Admiral · Navy World War II · 1941 ✦ Jackson Charles Pharris Gunner · Navy World War II · 1941 TR Thomas James Reeves Radio Electrician · Navy World War II · 1941 ✦ Donald Kirby Ross Warrant Machinist · Navy World War II · 1941

See all 17 recipients for December 7, 1941 →

More World War II recipients from Wisconsin

GE Gerald Leon Endl Staff Sergeant · Army World War II · 1944 ✦ Benjamin Louis Salomon Captain · Army World War II · 1944 ✦ CM Charles E. Mower Sergeant · Army World War II · 1944 ✦ Beauford Theodore Anderson Technical Sergeant · Army World War II · 1945 Douglas MacArthur General of the Army · Army World War II · 1941 AM Andrew Miller Staff Sergeant · Army World War II · 1944 ✦
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.