Seaman First Class James Richard Ward, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, 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. Ward was 20 years old.
Ward 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 1942. Medal of Honor mailed to his parents in Springfield, Ohio, accompanied by a letter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Secretary of Navy Frank Knox.
Ward was born on September 10, 1921 in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Ward is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 256 credited to Ohio.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his 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, Ward 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: 20
- Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
From the archives
Seaman First Class James R. Ward's remains were identified in 2021 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency from a group gravesite of USS Oklahoma sailors. He was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, in 2023.
Timeline
- September 10, 1921Born in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio
- December 7, 1941Act of valor — Pearl Harbor, Hawaii TerritoryAge 20. U.S.S. Oklahoma Killed in action.
- March 1942Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyMedal of Honor mailed to his parents in Springfield, Ohio, accompanied by a letter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Secretary of Navy Frank Knox.
- Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Biography
James Richard Ward (September 10, 1921 – December 7, 1941) was a US Navy sailor who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
From the Wikipedia article “James R. Ward”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- USS J. Richard Ward — destroyer escort
Further reading
- James Richard Ward: Pearl Harbor Herocmohs.org · 2023
- Sailor awarded Medal of Honor for Pearl Harbor heroism identified by DNAtaskandpurpose.com · 2023
