World War II Honoree

Nathan Green Gordon

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Morrilton, Arkansas

Honored By

James L. Dale

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT. LIEUTENANT AND COMMANDER OF A CATALINA PATROL PLANE. RESCUED PERSONNEL OF THE 5TH AIR FORCE SHOT DOWN IN COMBAT OVER KAVIENG HARBOR IN THE BISMARCK SEA, FEBRUARY 15, 1944. ON AIR ALERT IN THE VICINITY OF VITU ISLANDS. RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF THE CRASH AND FLEW BOLDLY INTO THE HARBOR, DEFYING CLOSE-RANGE FIRE FROM ENEMY SHORE GUNS, MADE 3 SEPARATE LANDINGS IN FULL VIEW OF THE JAPANESE AND PICKED UP 9 MEN, SEVERAL OF THEM INJURED. WITH HIS CUMBERSOME FLYING BOAT DANGEROUSLY OVERLOADED, HE MADE TAKEOFF DESPITE HEAVY SWELLS. RECEIVED A REPORT OF ANOTHER GROUP STRANDED IN A RUBBER LIFE RAFT 600 YARDS FROM THE ENEMY SHORE. PROMPTLY TURNING BACK, HE AGAIN RISKED HIS LIFE TO SET HIS PLANE DOWN UNDER DIRECT FIRE OF THE HEAVIEST DEFENSES OF KAVIENG AND TAKE ABOARD 6 MORE SURVIVORS, MAKING HIS 4TH DEXTEROUS TAKE OFF WITH 15 RESCUED OFFICERS AND MEN. BY HIS EXCEPTIONAL DARING, PERSONAL VALOR AND INCOMPARABLE AIRMANSHIP UNDER MOST PERILOUS CONDITIONS, HE PREVENTED CERTAIN DEATH OR CAPTURE OF OUR AIRMEN BY THE JAPANESE.