World War II Honoree

Cornelius J. 'Neil' Mulhern

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

ON JANUARY 12, 1945, WAS A MEMBER OF 1896TH ENGINEER AVIATION BATTALION, COMPANY B. THE CREW HAD JUST BOARDED A LIBERTY SHIP IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC OFF THE COAST OF MANILA, WHEN A JAPANESE KAMIKAZE PILOT CRASHED INTO THE SHIP. THE MAJORITY OF SOLDIERS DROWNED IN THE FIERY EXPLOSION. SURVIVED THE INITIAL EXPLOSION AND CLUNG TO SOME DEBRIS AND WATCHED AS THE SHIP AND CREW WENT DOWN. PUTTING HIS OWN LIFE IN JEOPARDY, SWAM BACK TO THE BURNING SHIP AND RESCUED CREW MATES WHO WERE TRAPPED AND WOULD HAVE BURNED ALIVE. DOVE UNDERWATER AND GRABBED HOLD OF A SHIPMATE, AND THEN WITH HIS ARM AROUND HIS CHEST, SWAM TO SAFETY. RECEIVED SOLDIER’S MEDAL FOR HEROISM.