World War II Honoree

John Arnold Austin

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Warrior, Alabama

Honored By

John Peterson

ON THE MORNING OF 7 DECEMBER 1941, HE WAS IN THE OKLAHOMA. WHEN THE BATTLESHIP CAPSIZED AS A RESULT OF JAPANESE BOMBS AND TORPEDOES, HE WAS TRAPPED BELOW WATER WITH MANY OF HIS SHIPMATES. HE SEARCHED FOR A MEANS OF ESCAPE AND FOUND A PORTHOLE WHICH, THOUGH BENEATH THE SURFACE, OFFERED JUST SUCH AN AVENUE. AS A RESULT OF HIS EFFORTS, 15 SAILORS ESCAPED A WATERY GRAVE. HE, HOWEVER, DID NOT. HE WAS AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS POSTHUMOUSLY. THE DESTROYER ESCORT USS AUSTIN DE-15 WAS NAMED IN HIS HONOR.