Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Machinist's Mate First Class · U.S. Navy

Robert Raymond Scott

Machinist's Mate First Class Robert Raymond Scott, 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

Machinist's Mate First Class Robert Raymond Scott, 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. California. Scott was 26 years old.

Scott 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 — presented to his mother.

Scott was born on July 13, 1915 in Massillon, Stark County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Ohio. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by Ohio Military Museum, Massillon, OH.

Scott is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard for 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. The compartment in the U.S.S. California in which the air compressor to which Scott was assigned as his battle station was flooded as the result of a torpedo hit. The remainder of the personnel evacuated that compartment but Scott refused to leave, saying words to the effect "This is my station and I will stay and give them air as long as the guns are going."

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: 26
  • Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War II.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Massillon — map
  • Died: Attack on Pearl Harbor — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. July 13, 1915
    Born in Massillon, Stark County, Ohio
  2. December 7, 1941
    Act of valor — Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory
    Age 26. U.S.S. California Killed in action.
  3. March 1942
    Medal of Honor presented posthumously
    presented to his mother
  4. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Robert Raymond Scott (July 13, 1915 – December 7, 1941) was a United States Navy sailor who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

From the Wikipedia article “Robert R. Scott”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

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 Ohio

Rodger Wilton Young Private · Army World War II · 1943 ✦ Robert Craig Second Lieutenant · Army World War II · 1943 ✦ John Roderick Towle Private · Army World War II · 1944 ✦ William Adelbert Foster Private First Class · Marine Corps World War II · 1945 ✦ JC Joseph J. Cicchetti Private First Class · Army World War II · 1945 ✦ Herbert F. Christian Private · 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.