World War II Honoree

Charles Ward Harker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bristol, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Fire Controlman Third Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy June 4, 1940 at Chicago, Illinois, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, Illinois. After completing boot camp, he was transferred to the USS Nevada Battleship, BB-36 for duty as a Fire Controlman, who was responsible in directing his warship’s cannons line of fire, and based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands. On Sunday Morning, December 7, 1941 the Emperor of Japan’s Naval Aviators launched a devastating, surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base and other military installation on Oahu. The Nevada moored on Ford Island sustained a torpedo strike, three bombs hits and despite her wounds, along with her shipmates managed to get underway. While moving down the channel toward the open sea, the enemy hit his armored warship once again, and the Ship’s Captain had to beach her to keep the channel open. Reported missing in action, lost at sea on the day of the attack. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.