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Captain · U.S. Navy

Mervyn Sharp Bennion

Captain Mervyn Sharp Bennion, 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 Mervyn Sharp Bennion, 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. West Virginia. Bennion was 54 years old.

Bennion 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.

Bennion was born on May 5, 1887 in Vernon, Tooele County, Utah. His Medal of Honor is credited to Utah. He is buried at City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Bennion is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 6 credited to Utah.

★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous devotion to duty, 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. As commanding officer of the U.S.S. West Virginia, after being mortally wounded, Capt. Bennion evidenced apparent concern only in fighting and saving his ship, and strongly protested against being carried from the bridge.

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: 54
  • Resting place: City Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

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

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Utah — map
  • Died: Pearl Harbor — map
  • Buried: Salt Lake City Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Utah →

Timeline

  1. May 5, 1887
    Born in Vernon, Tooele County, Utah
  2. December 7, 1941
    Act of valor — Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory
    Age 54. U.S.S. West Virginia Killed in action.
  3. Resting place
    City Cemetery
    Salt Lake City, Utah

Biography

Mervyn Sharp Bennion (May 5, 1887 – December 7, 1941) was a United States Navy captain who served during World War I and was killed while he was in command of battleship USS West Virginia during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life."

From the Wikipedia article “Mervyn S. Bennion”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

Also honored for actions on December 7, 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 Robert Raymond Scott Machinist's Mate First Class · Navy World War II · 1941 ✦

See all 17 recipients for December 7, 1941 →

More World War II recipients from Utah

George Edward Wahlen Pharmacist's Mate Second Class · Navy World War II · 1945 George Taro "Joe" Sakato Private · Army World War II · 1944 William Edward Hall Lieutenant, j.g. · Navy World War II · 1942 Jose F. Valdez Private First Class · Army World War II · 1945 ✦
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.