Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Dalhart, Texas
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Fireman First Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy October 4, 1940 at Denver, Colorado, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp and Fire Training, he was transferred to the USS California Battleship, BB-44 for duty as a Fireman, 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 Battleship along with her shipmates was moored on Ford Island, when the battlewagon was attacked by two Torpedo Bombers. She was hit forward and aft by two torpedo warheads causing severe flooding, and slowly settled to the bottom of the bay. The Battle of Pearl Harbor took his life on the day of the attack, and interred in the Oahu Nuuanu Cemetery, Territory of Hawaii. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Seaman received his remains for burial, with interment at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Dalhart, Texas. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.