Franklin Van Valkenburgh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franklin Van Valkenburgh
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| Born | April 5, 1888 Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Died | December 7, 1941 (aged 53) Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1909–1941 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Commands held | USS Talbot (DD-114) Destroyer Squadron Five USS Melville (AD-2) USS Arizona (BB-39) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor |
Franklin Van Valkenburgh was a brave American naval officer. He was born on April 5, 1888, and sadly passed away on December 7, 1941. He is best known as the final captain of the famous battleship, the USS Arizona (BB-39). Captain Van Valkenburgh lost his life when the Arizona exploded and sank during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
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Early Life and Education
Franklin Van Valkenburgh was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When he was a young child, his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father was also named Franklin Van Valkenburgh and was a well-known lawyer.
Franklin attended Cass Elementary School and graduated from East Side High School in Milwaukee. This school was later renamed Riverside High School.
Franklin Van Valkenburgh began his naval career on September 15, 1905. He became a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy. He worked hard and graduated on June 4, 1909.
After graduating, he served on several battleships, including the USS Vermont (BB-20) and the USS South Carolina. On June 5, 1911, he officially became an ensign, which is a junior officer rank.
Service Around the World
Soon after, he traveled to the Asiatic Station, which is a naval area in Asia. He joined the USS Rainbow (AS-7), a ship that supported submarines, in the Philippine Islands. He also served as an executive officer on the gunboat USS Pampanga (PG-39) for a short time.
After returning to the United States, Van Valkenburgh continued his training. He studied steam engineering at the Naval Academy and Columbia University.
World War I and Beyond
When the United States entered World War I, Van Valkenburgh was serving as an engineering officer on the battleship USS Rhode Island (BB-17). After the war, he became an instructor at the Naval Academy. He also served as an engineer officer on the USS Minnesota (BB-22).
He returned to teach at the Naval Academy until 1925. Later, he served on the USS Maryland (BB-46). In 1927, he was promoted to commander. He then worked in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, helping to plan naval operations.
Commanding Ships
In 1931, Commander Van Valkenburgh took command of the destroyer USS Talbot (DD-114). He also led Destroyer Squadron 5, which was a group of destroyers.
He attended the Naval War College to further his education in naval strategy. After that, he commanded the USS Melville (AD-2), a ship that repaired other ships. While commanding the Melville, he was promoted to captain in 1937.
Captain of the USS Arizona
On February 5, 1941, Captain Van Valkenburgh became the commanding officer of the USS Arizona (BB-39). The Arizona was a powerful battleship. It had just been repaired and updated. For the rest of that year, the Arizona was based mainly at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
Captain Van Valkenburgh was very dedicated to his duty. In a letter he wrote in November 1941, he said: "We are training, preparing, maneuvering, doing everything we can do to be ready. The work is intensive, continuous, and carefully planned." He also mentioned that their "eyes are constantly trained Westward," meaning they were watching for any threats. He added, "We have no intention of being caught napping."
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 4, 1941, the Arizona went to sea with other battleships for night gunnery practice. They returned to Pearl Harbor on December 6 and docked at Ford Island.
Captain Van Valkenburgh was on board the Arizona on the morning of December 7, 1941. Suddenly, just before 8:00 AM, Japanese planes launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
Captain Van Valkenburgh quickly ran to the navigation bridge to direct his ship's defense. A sailor asked him if he wanted to go to a safer spot, but Captain Van Valkenburgh refused. He bravely stayed on the bridge, giving orders over the telephone.
A huge explosion suddenly rocked the ship. This explosion threw Captain Van Valkenburgh and others on the bridge to the deck. All the windows on the bridge were blown out. Sadly, Captain Van Valkenburgh was never seen again after this explosion. His body was never found, but his Naval Academy class ring was later recovered.
Captain Van Valkenburgh was honored for his bravery. He received the Medal of Honor after his death. The award recognized his "devotion to duty... extraordinary courage, and the complete disregard of his own life."
Legacy and Awards
In 1943, a destroyer ship was named the USS Van Valkenburgh (DD-656) in his honor. This was a way to remember his courage and sacrifice.
Captain Van Valkenburgh received several important awards for his service:
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| Medal of Honor | Purple Heart | World War I Victory Medal |
| American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp |
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with service star |
World War II Victory Medal |
See also
