World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
John W. Barden
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Spencertown, New York
Honored By
Family & Friends
He was serving as a shipfitter at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. Escaped without injury. Credited with saving the lives of several shipmates who joined him in swimming 50 yards through burning oil to Ford Island. As a Navy diver, he worked around the clock amid the wreckage of the USS California and the USS Nevada, helping raise both ships from the bottom of the harbor. He put in more than 500 hours of underwater work and received a commendation. Once the USS California was refitted and reassigned to the fleet, he rejoined the crew and took part in the assault on the Mariana Islands and the Battle of Surigawa Strait. He was an assistant 1st Lieutenant at the end of the war on the USS Fall River. At Bikini Atoll, he was assigned as target coordinating officer in the first of two atomic bomb blasts, known as 'Operation Crossroads'. Finished his 30 year career as Commander.