World War II Honoree

William Pinckney

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Beaufort, South Carolina

Honored By

Richard E. Miller

RECIPIENT OF THE NAVY CROSS FOR HIS HEROISM ON THE USS ENTERPRISE CV-6 DURING THE BATTLE OF SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS, OCTOBER 26, 1942. WHEN A JAPANESE BOMB EXPLODED, KILLING FOUR OF THE SIX MEN AT THEIR BATTLE STATION IN AN AMMUNITION HANDLING ROOM, HONOREE WILLIAM PINCKNEY AND GUNNER'S MATE JAMES BAGWELL WERE LEFT ALIVE BUT INJURED AND IN SHOCK. THE TWO MEN WERE GROPING THEIR WAY UP A LADDER TO AN ESCAPE HATCH WHEN BAGWELL GRASPED THE HATCH COMBING AND FOUND IT WAS SCORCHING HOT DUE TO FIRES RAGING ON THE HANGER DECK ABOVE. LOSING HIS GRIP, HE FELL TO THE DECK, UNCONSCIOUS. DESPITE HIS OWN SEVERE BURN INJURIES, THE SUFFOCATING SMOKE, ELECTRICAL HAZARDS AND FLAMES THAT THREATENED TO IGNITE THE GASOLINE VAPORS SURROUNDING HIM; HONOREE RAISED HIS UNCONSCIOUS AND MUCH HEAVIER COMPANION OFF THE DECK. HE CARRIED HIM BACK UP THE LADDER AND THROUGH THE HATCH BEFORE CLIMBING OUT HIMSELF. FINDING OTHERS TO CARE FOR BAGWELL, THE HONOREE THEN RETURNED TO THE HANDLING ROOM IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO RESCUE HIS OTHER SHIPMATES. FOR HIS SELFLESS HEROISM, THEN OFFICER'S COOK THIRD CLASS WILLIAM PINCKNEY BECAME THE SECOND MEMBER OF THE NAVY'S MESSMAN BRANCH AND THE SECOND SAILOR OF AFRICAN DESCENT TO BE AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS.