John C. England facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John C. England
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|---|---|
| Born | December 11, 1920 Harris, Missouri, US |
| Died | December 7, 1941 (aged 20) Pearl Harbor |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1940–1941 |
| Rank | Ensign |
| Unit | USS Oklahoma (BB-37) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Ensign John Charles England was a brave officer in the United States Navy. He was born on December 11, 1920, and sadly died on December 7, 1941. This was during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Empire.
Ensign England was serving on the USS Oklahoma when it was hit by torpedoes and sank. He is remembered for his heroic actions during the attack. Two U.S. Navy ships have been named after him to honor his memory. He also received a Purple Heart award. After many years, his remains were finally identified and returned home.
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John Charles England was born in Harris, Missouri, on December 11, 1920. He grew up in Oklahoma City before moving to Alhambra, California. He went to Alhambra High School with his sister, Lennie.
He was very popular in high school. In 1938, he was chosen as the president of his graduating class. He was also part of the drama club and acted in plays. After high school, he attended Pasadena City College in California.
In September 1940, John England joined the United States Naval Reserve. He trained on the USS New York. In March 1941, he became a Midshipman. By June, he was officially an Ensign, which is a junior officer rank in the Navy.
After more training, Ensign England joined the USS Oklahoma in September 1941. The ship was stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
In December 1941, Ensign England was looking forward to seeing his wife, Helen, and their new baby daughter, Victoria. They were scheduled to arrive in Oahu, Hawaii, very soon. He had never met his daughter.
On December 7, 1941, just four days before his 21st birthday, Ensign England made a selfless choice. He traded shifts with a friend so he could work in the ship's radio room. This meant his friend could have time off to be with family.
At 7:00 a.m. that day, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The USS Oklahoma was a main target. It was docked next to the USS Maryland. The Oklahoma was hit by three powerful torpedoes right away.
As the ship began to tip over, two more torpedoes struck it. Sailors trying to escape were also shot at. Within just 20 minutes, the ship completely flipped over. Its masts touched the bottom of the harbor, leaving part of its hull above the water.
A Heroic Sacrifice
Ensign England survived the first part of the attack. Even though the ship was on fire and sinking, he didn't think about his own safety. He refused to leave while others were trapped inside the battleship.
Despite being ordered to "abandon ship" (leave the ship), he went back into the ship three times. Each time, he returned to the radio room and helped save three of his shipmates. He died during his fourth attempt to rescue more people.
England's family learned about his death through a telegram from Admiral Chester Nimitz. While other heroes from the USS Oklahoma received the Medal of Honor, Ensign England was awarded the Purple Heart. However, he was greatly honored by having two Navy ships named after him.
Identifying and Reburying Remains
After the attack, 429 crew members died on the USS Oklahoma. This was the highest number of deaths for any ship at Pearl Harbor, except for the USS Arizona.
In 1949, some of England's remains were found. He and four other sailors were buried together as "unidentified" at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, also known as the Punchbowl Cemetery.
For many years, only 35 of the 429 sailors and Marines from the Oklahoma were identified. The remains of 388 unknown sailors were buried in Hawaii. In 1950, all unidentified remains from the Oklahoma were buried in 61 caskets at the Punchbowl.
In 2003, a Pearl Harbor survivor named Ray Emory helped start an effort to identify these unknown remains. Scientists used DNA evidence and other research. They found that the remains were "extremely mixed up," meaning many individuals were in one casket.
On December 7, 2007, a memorial for the 429 crew members was dedicated on Ford Island. It is part of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. The memorial has engraved black granite walls and white marble posts.
In 2015, the Department of Defense decided to dig up all the unknown remains from the USS Oklahoma. This was to use modern DNA testing to identify them. The process began in June 2015. By December 2017, 100 sailors had been identified. By the end of 2018, 181 had been identified. By December 2019, 236 remains were identified. As of 2020, 267 missing crew members have been identified.
In 2016, Ensign England's remains were identified using DNA testing. He was found in a grave of unknown soldiers at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. After identification, he was reburied with full military honors next to his parents in Colorado. His funeral included a large procession and was even filmed for the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Ships Named in His Honor
Two ships have been named USS England to honor John Charles England.
In 1943, the destroyer escort USS England was named after him. His mother, Thelma England, officially launched the ship in San Francisco. This ship became famous for sinking six enemy submarines in just 12 days in May 1944. This was an amazing achievement in antisubmarine warfare.
Because of this incredible performance, Admiral Ernest King, a top Navy leader, famously said, "There’ll always be an England in the United States Navy." The first USS England was taken out of service in 1945.
To keep that promise, a second ship, the Guided Missile Cruiser USS England (DLG-22), was launched in 1962. This England served in many important operations in the Pacific, from the Vietnam War to Desert Storm. It helped rescue pilots and showed American strength around the world.
The USS England received the Navy Unit Commendation award twice for its service. It was taken out of service in 2004.
Since the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, people have started a petition to ask the Navy to commission a new USS England. This is to continue honoring Ensign John Charles England's service and sacrifice.
Other Honors
Alhambra High School, where John England went, still gives out the John C. England award every year. This award goes to a graduating student who shows excellent character, honesty, and helpful service to others.
Building 836 at Naval Service Training Command in Great Lakes is also named in honor of England.
Military awards
| Purple Heart |
| American Defense Service Medal | Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal |
