World War II Honoree

Samuel Glenn Fuqua

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Laddonia, Missouri

Honored By

Jesse R. Beck

Relationship

Friend

ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER WAS ABOARD THE USS ARIZONA WHEN IT WAS ATTACKED BY THE JAPANESE AT PEARL HARBOR. HE RUSHED TO THE QUARTERDECK OF THE SHIP WHERE HE WAS KNOCKED OFF HIS FEET BY AN EXPLODING BOMB, WHICH PENETRATED TO THE DECKS BELOW AND A MASSIVE FIRE ENSUED. WHEN HE REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS, HE BEGAN TO DIRECT FIGHTING THE FIRE AND THE RESCUE OF PERSONNEL. ANOTHER EXPLOSION FORWARD CAUSED THE SHIP TO APPEAR TO RISE OUT OF THE WATER AND THEN RAPIDLY SETTLE SOWN INTO THE WATER. THE FORWARD AREA OF THE SHIP WAS ENVELOPED IN FLAMES WHILE WOUNDED AND BURNED MEN WERE POURING OUT OF THE SHIP. HE CONTINUED TO DIRECT FIGHTING THE FIRES AND EVACUATION OF HIS MEN. AFTER REALIZING THE SHIP COULD NOT BE SAVED AND THAT HE WAS THE SENIOR OFFICER ABOARD, HE ORDERED ABANDON SHIP BUT HE REMAINED ON THE QUARTERDECK UNTIL SATISFIED ALL PERSONNEL WHO COULD BE SAVED WERE SAVED, HE LEFT HIS SHIP WITH THE BOATLOAD. FOR THIS HEROIC ACTION HE WAS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. CONTINUING HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER, HE LATER RETIRED WITH THE RANK OF REAR ADMIRAL.