World War II Honoree

Oliver Filley Ames

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE WAS A NAVY HERO DURING WORLD WAR II. HE WAS ASSISTANT GUNNERY OFFICER ABOARD THE USS LITTLE WHEN IT WAS ATTACKED IN 1944 BY THREE JAPANESE KAMIKAZE PILOTS. HE TRIED TO EXTINGUISH FLAMES WITH A WET MOP, THEN THREW LIFE JACKETS TO CREW MEMBERS WHO HAD ALREADY ABANDONED SHIP. HE DIDN'T HAVE A LIFE JACKET, SO HE TOOK OFF HIS TROUSERS AND TIED A KNOT IN EACH LEG TO TRAP SOME AIR THEN HE JUMPED HIMSELF. THIS TRAINING METHOD KEPT HIM AFLOAT. HE WAS IN THE WATER FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR BEFORE HE WAS RESCUED. HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR AND OTHER DECORATIONS FOR HIS SERVICE.