World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
John Gordon
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Mira Mesa, California
Honored By
Family & Friends
He was on a signal tower at the naval station on December 7, 1941 when he received word that the USS Ward sent a startling message. His orders were to dispatch a destroyer to help. Before that ship could get moving, Japanese planes came in and attacked. A plane was so close that he was able to see the expression on the pilot's face. His brother was on the USS Arizona and survived; they were reunited the day after the attack.