Lieutenant John William Finn, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 7, 1941 at Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii during World War II. At the time he was serving with VP-14 Squadron (Patrol Planes Squadron). Finn was 32 years old.
16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 15, 1942 — on board the U.S.S. Enterprise, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, presented by Adm. Chester W. Nimitz.
Finn was born on July 24, 1909 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. His Medal of Honor is credited to Belle Vernon Acres, Los Angeles County, California. Finn died on May 27, 2010 in Chula Vista, California, at the age of 100. He is buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Campo Indian Reservation, California.
Finn is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 142 credited to California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For extraordinary heroism distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, on 7 December 1941, Lt. (then A.C.O.M.) Finn promptly secured and manned a.50-caliber machine gun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy machine-gun strafing fire. Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man this gun and to return the enemy's fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard for his own personal safety. It was only by specific orders that he was persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention. Following first-aid treatment, although obviously suffering much pain and moving with great difficulty, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the rearming of returning planes. His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man this gun and to return the enemy's fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard for his own personal safety.
- Age at death: 100
- Resting place: Mt. Carmel Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, John William Finn 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: Compton High School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →
Timeline
- July 24, 1909Born in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
- December 7, 1941Act of valor — Kaneohe Bay, Territory of HawaiiAge 32. VP-14 Squadron (Patrol Planes Squadron)
- September 15, 1942Medal of Honor presentedOn board the U.S.S. Enterprise, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, presented by Adm. Chester W. Nimitz
- May 27, 2010Died in Chula Vista, CaliforniaAge 100.
- Resting placeMt. Carmel CemeteryCampo Indian Reservation, California
Biography
John William Finn (24 July 1909 – 27 May 2010) was a sailor in the United States Navy who, as a chief petty officer and aviation ordnanceman, received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II. Though ordnancemen are only responsible for performing maintenance on guns and handling of munitions, Finn – when the Japanese bombed Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay during the 7 December attack – earned the medal by firing a machine gun from an exposed position throughout the attack, despite being repeatedly wounded. He continued to serve in the Navy and in 1942 was commissioned an ensign.
From the Wikipedia article “John William Finn”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
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