Peter Tomich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Tomich
Petar Herceg 'Tonić' |
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Chief Watertender Peter Tomich
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| Born | June 3, 1893 Prolog, Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | December 7, 1941 (aged 48) Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1917–1919 (Army) 1919–1941 (Navy) |
| Rank | Chief Watertender (Navy) |
| Unit | USS Litchfield (DD-336) USS Utah (BB-31) |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor |
Peter Tomich (born Petar Herceg 'Tonić'; June 3, 1893 – December 7, 1941) was a brave sailor in the United States Navy. He was born in a part of Europe called Herzegovina, which was then part of Austria-Hungary. He received the Medal of Honor, which is the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military. He earned it for his amazing actions during World War II.
Contents
Peter Tomich's Life Story
Peter Tomich was born as Petar Herceg in a village called Prolog, near Ljubuški. He was from a group of people known as Croats. In 1913, he moved to the United States. A few years later, in 1917, he joined the US Army.
Serving in World War I
Tomich served in the US Army during World War I. After the war, in 1919, he joined the US Navy. His first ship was a destroyer called the USS Litchfield (DD-336).
Heroism in World War II
By 1941, Peter Tomich had become a Chief Watertender. This job meant he was in charge of the ship's boilers, which make steam to power the ship. He was serving on a training ship called the USS Utah.
On December 7, 1941, the USS Utah was docked at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Suddenly, Japan launched a surprise attack. The Utah was hit by torpedoes and began to sink and flip over.
Chief Tomich was working in a boiler room deep inside the ship. Even as the ship was capsizing, he stayed at his post. He made sure that the boilers were shut down safely. This was very important to prevent explosions and help other sailors escape. Because he stayed behind to help others, he lost his own life.
For his "distinguished conduct and extraordinary courage," he was given the Medal of Honor after his death. This medal was displayed at a Navy school named after him. Many years later, in 2006, the medal was finally given to his family in Croatia.
Awards and Honors
Peter Tomich received several awards for his service and bravery:
- Medal of Honor
- Purple Heart (awarded to those wounded or killed in action)
- Navy Good Conduct Medal
- World War I Victory Medal
- American Defense Service Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
Tomich's Legacy
Peter Tomich is remembered in several ways:
- A destroyer escort ship, the USS Tomich (DE-242), was named in his honor. It served from 1943 to 1974.
- The United States Navy Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island, has a building called Tomich Hall.
- A training facility for steam engines at Great Lakes is also named after him.
- A conference room at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Headquarters in Washington, D.C., is called the Peter Tomich Conference Center.
See also
Images for kids
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The front of Peter Tomich's Medal of Honor.
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The back of Peter Tomich's Medal of Honor.
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