World War II Honoree

John C. Cullen

Branch of Service

U.S. Coast Guard

Hometown

Manhattan, New York

Honored By

Family

EARNED A MERITORIOUS CITATION FOR HIS PERFORMANCE AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT JUNE 13, 1942. WHILE ON PATROL AT LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, HE DISCOVERED SEVERAL GERMAN SABOTEURS BEARING BOXES OF TNT AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE APPARATUS. UNARMED AND HELPLESS AGAINST THEIR MENACING THREATS, HE CLEVERLY ALLAYED THEIR SUSPICIONS AND THWARTED THEIR SUBVERSIVE INTENTIONS BY PROMPTLY ACCEPTING A PROFFERED BRIBE, THEN SOUNDING AN ALARM THAT LED TO THEIR EVENTUAL CAPTURE. HE REMAINED ON THE BEACH ALL NIGHT AS A MEMBER OF THE SEARCH PARTY AND LATER OFFERED INCRIMINATING TESTIMONY BEFORE A SPECIAL MILITARY COMMISSION CONDUCTING TRIAL. HIS KEEN PRESENCE OF MIND AND DISCERNING JUDGMENT IN A GRAVE EMERGENCY UNDOUBTEDLY PREVENTED THE SUCCESSFUL CULMINATION OF HOSTILE INTRIGUE DESIGNED TO SABOTAGE THE NATIONAL WAR EFFORT. MANY LIVES WERE SAVED BY HIS ACTIONS.