World War II Honoree

John Francis Fairbanks, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Williamsburg, Virginia

Honored By

Leonard Anthony Richardson III

Relationship

newphew

LT. FAIRBANKS SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER ABOARD THE U.S.S. EDSALL, (DD 219), A 'FOUR PIPER'DESTROYER THAT BECAME PART OF THE ABDA FLEET SOON AFTER THE U.S. ENTERED WWII. HIS SHIP WAS CREDITED WITH SINKING THE FIRST FULL SIZE JAPANESE SUBMARINE IN WWII OFF THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA. ON MARCH 1, 1942, THE EDSALL CAME UNDER ATTACK BY FOUR JAPAENESE WAR SHIPS NEAR CHRISTMAS ISLAND, SOUTH OF JAVA. THE TWO HEAVY CRUISERS AND TWO BATTLESHIPS FIRED OVER 1,300 NAVAL ROUNDS AT HIS SHIP DURING A TWO HOUR STERN CHASE. HIS SHIP WAS EVENTUALLY SUNK BY THE COMBINED ATTACK OF AIRCRAFT AND NAVAL FIRE. NO MEMBERS OF THE EDSALL'S CREW SURVIVED THE WAR.