Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Cloverport, Kentucky
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Fireman Second Class. Inducted into the United States Navy August 14, 1940 at Louisville, Kentucky, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon his graduation from boot camp and Fire Training, he was transferred to the USS Oklahoma Battleship BB-37 for duty as a Fireman, and based at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. On Sunday Morning, December 7, 1941 the Emperor of Japan and his Naval Aviators launched their well-planned attack on the U.S. Fleet at Pearl Harbor and other military installations on Oahu. The Oklahoma along with her shipmates lay moored on Ford Island came under attack and sustained three torpedo hits, and as she capsized six more torpedoes struck home. Reported missing in action or buried at sea succeeding the attack and the Battle-of-Pearl Harbor took his life. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Young Cemetery Hawesville, Kentucky. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.