Fitting for Memorial Day-
Medal of Honor recipient John Finn, one of the oldest and most celebrated survivors of the attack that targeted Pearl Harbor, died yesterday, the Navy said. He was 100.
Finn fired a machine gun at Japanese planes over the Kāne'ohe Marine base despite being wounded many times. He was the nation's oldest Medal of Honor recipient and the last living recipient from the Pearl Harbor attack.
Finn died at a nursing home in Chula Vista, Calif.
Last year, the Navy named one of its newest USS Arizona Memorial shuttle boats the John W. Finn.
Daniel Martinez, National Park Service historian at the Arizona Memorial, said he is often asked about the shuttle's name and responds with the story of a brave man who did his best to shoot down the enemy over American soil on Dec. 7, 1941.
"I felt like I was looking at a real hero. And that hero was John," Martinez said.
"I knew him well. He was very much a no-nonsense person. Not in a strict sense of the word, but in the sense that he never left the military. He was colorful and had a great sense of humor."
Finn retired from the Navy in 1956 as a lieutenant.
U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, himself a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, said, "We have lost a great patriot today and I extend my condolences to Mr. Finn's family. Like all grateful Americans, I will remember him for his courage and his love of country. I hope that we all remember him with gratitude for the sacrifices he made in defense of our great nation."
More here-
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100528/OBITS/5280340/Medal+recipient+in+Pearl+Harbor+attack++a+real+hero+
Medal of Honor recipient John Finn, one of the oldest and most celebrated survivors of the attack that targeted Pearl Harbor, died yesterday, the Navy said. He was 100.
Finn fired a machine gun at Japanese planes over the Kāne'ohe Marine base despite being wounded many times. He was the nation's oldest Medal of Honor recipient and the last living recipient from the Pearl Harbor attack.
Finn died at a nursing home in Chula Vista, Calif.
Last year, the Navy named one of its newest USS Arizona Memorial shuttle boats the John W. Finn.
Daniel Martinez, National Park Service historian at the Arizona Memorial, said he is often asked about the shuttle's name and responds with the story of a brave man who did his best to shoot down the enemy over American soil on Dec. 7, 1941.
"I felt like I was looking at a real hero. And that hero was John," Martinez said.
"I knew him well. He was very much a no-nonsense person. Not in a strict sense of the word, but in the sense that he never left the military. He was colorful and had a great sense of humor."
Finn retired from the Navy in 1956 as a lieutenant.
U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, himself a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, said, "We have lost a great patriot today and I extend my condolences to Mr. Finn's family. Like all grateful Americans, I will remember him for his courage and his love of country. I hope that we all remember him with gratitude for the sacrifices he made in defense of our great nation."
More here-
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100528/OBITS/5280340/Medal+recipient+in+Pearl+Harbor+attack++a+real+hero+
1 comment:
God Bless America
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