List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Attack on Pearl Harbor facts for kids

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for bravery a person in the United States military can receive. It's given for incredible acts of courage. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a sudden military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States. This attack happened on December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Japan targeted many U.S. military places, especially the naval base.

This surprise attack killed nearly 2,500 people. It also badly damaged the U.S. Navy's ships and airfields. This event made the United States join World War II. For their amazing bravery during the attack, 15 sailors and 1 Marine were given the Medal of Honor. These 16 heroes held different ranks, from seaman to rear admiral. Eleven of them received their awards after they had died, which is called posthumously.

Where Heroes Fought: Pearl Harbor Locations

Many brave actions happened at different places during the attack. Four sailors from the USS California earned Medals of Honor. Three were from the USS Arizona. Two each came from the USS Nevada and the USS Oklahoma. One hero was from the USS Utah, one from USS Vestal, and one from the USS West Virginia. There was also a sailor at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay and a Marine at Naval Air Station Midway.

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  Pearl Harbor and NAS Kaneohe Bay ("A" and "E" on upper map), NAS Midway ("B" on lower map)

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  The USS California sinking after the attack.

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  The USS Arizona burning and sinking.

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  The USS Nevada beached to prevent sinking.

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  The USS Oklahoma capsized (turned over).

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  The USS Utah capsizing.

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  The USS Vestal beached after the attack.

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  The USS West Virginia burning.

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  Naval Air Station (now MCAS) Kaneohe Bay in 2007.

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  Naval Air Station Midway just before the attack.

Brave Actions: Medal of Honor Recipients

      This color means the Medal of Honor was given after the person had died.

Image	Name	Service	Rank	Ship / Unit	Place of action	What They Did
Mervyn S. Bennion	Bennion, Mervyn S.Mervyn S. Bennion	Navy	Captain	USS West Virginia	Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii	Even though he was badly wounded, he stayed in charge of the USS West Virginia. He showed amazing courage and didn't think about his own safety.
John W. Finn	Finn, John W.John W. Finn	Navy	Chief Aviation Ordnanceman	Patrol Bombing Squadron 11	Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii	At NAS Kaneohe Bay, he bravely used a machine gun against Japanese planes. He kept fighting even after being wounded many times, causing a lot of damage to the enemy.
Francis C. Flaherty	Flaherty, Francis C.Francis C. Flaherty	Navy	Ensign	USS Oklahoma	Pearl Harbor	As the USS Oklahoma was sinking, he stayed in a gun turret. He held a flashlight so others could see and escape, giving up his own life to help them.
Samuel G. Fuqua	Fuqua, Samuel G.Samuel G. Fuqua	Navy	Lieutenant Commander	USS Arizona	Pearl Harbor	He was hurt when the USS Arizona was first bombed. But he recovered and calmly led efforts to put out fires and rescue wounded sailors. His leadership saved many lives.
Edwin J. Hill	Hill, Edwin J.Edwin J. Hill	Navy	Chief Boatswain	USS Nevada	Pearl Harbor	During heavy bombing of the USS Nevada, he led his crew to release the ship's ropes and swam back to the ship. He was killed by an explosion while trying to drop the anchors.
Herbert C. Jones	Jones, Herbert C.Herbert C. Jones	Navy	Ensign	USS California	Pearl Harbor	He organized a team to bring ammunition to the anti-aircraft guns of the USS California. He was fatally wounded by a bomb. He told others to leave him and save themselves.
Isaac C. Kidd	Kidd, Isaac C.Isaac C. Kidd	Navy	Rear Admiral	Battleship Division One	Pearl Harbor	He stayed on the bridge of the USS Arizona doing his duty. He was killed when a bomb hit the bridge as the ship exploded.
Jackson C. Pharris	Pharris, Jackson C.Jackson C. Pharris	Navy	Gunner	USS California	Pearl Harbor	He was in charge of repairs on the USS California. Despite severe injuries and being knocked out twice, he helped supply ammunition, fixed the ship's tilt, and rescued unconscious shipmates from flooded areas.
Thomas J. Reeves	Reeves, Thomas JamesThomas James Reeves	Navy	Chief Radioman	USS California	Pearl Harbor	After the ammunition lifts on the USS California stopped working, he helped pass ammunition by hand through a burning hallway. He died from smoke and fire.
Donald K. Ross	Ross, Donald K.Donald K. Ross	Navy	Chief Machinist	USS Nevada	Pearl Harbor	He made his crew leave a dangerous engine room on the USS Nevada and did all the work himself until he passed out. After waking up, he went back to work until ordered to leave.
Robert R. Scott	Scott, Robert R.Robert R. Scott	Navy	Machinist's Mate First Class	USS California	Pearl Harbor	When his battle station on the USS California flooded, he refused to leave. He said he would stay and keep the air compressor working for the guns as long as they were firing.
Peter Tomich	Tomich, PeterPeter Tomich	Navy	Chief Watertender	USS Utah	Pearl Harbor	Even though he knew the USS Utah was turning over, he stayed at his post. He made sure all boilers were shut down and all crew members had left before he did.
Franklin Van Valkenburgh	Van Valkenburgh, FranklinFranklin Van Valkenburgh	Navy	Captain	USS Arizona	Pearl Harbor	He remained on the bridge of the USS Arizona doing his duty as the ship's commander. He was killed when a bomb hit the bridge as the ship exploded.
James R. Ward	Ward, James R.James R. Ward	Navy	Seaman First Class	USS Oklahoma	Pearl Harbor	During the evacuation of the USS Oklahoma, he stayed in a gun turret. He held a flashlight so others could see and escape, giving up his own life to help them.
Cassin Young	Young, CassinCassin Young	Navy	Commander	USS Vestal	Pearl Harbor	He moved his ship, USS Vestal, away from the burning battleship USS Arizona. He then beached his ship on purpose to save it from sinking.

Midway Atoll: Another Hero's Story

The Japanese fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor also struck other places in the Hawaiian Islands that day. They tried to disable the U.S. Marine base on Sand Island at Midway Atoll. For his actions during this fight, a 16th Medal of Honor was given to a Marine. He died at Sand Island on this first day of the Pacific War.

      This color means the Medal of Honor was given after the person had died.

Image	Name	Service	Rank	Ship / Unit	Place of action	What They Did
George H. Cannon	Cannon, George H.George H. Cannon	Marine Corps	First Lieutenant	6th Defense Battalion	Naval Air Station Midway, Sand Island, Midway Atoll, Territory of Hawaii	He refused to leave his post until his men, who were wounded by the same shell that hurt him, were safely evacuated. He kept directing his command post until he was forced to leave.

See also

• Francis P. Hammerberg - a Navy Medal of Honor recipient who died in rescue operations at Pearl Harbor in February 1945.