World War II Honoree

Mervin Sharp Bennion

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Vernon, Utah

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. CAPTAIN, U.S. NAVY. APPOINTED FROM: UTAH. CITATION: FOR CONSPICUOUS DEVOTION TO DUTY, EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE, AND COMPLETE DISREGARD OF HIS OWN LIFE, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, DURING THE ATTACK ON THE FLEET IN PEARL HARBOR, BY JAPANESE FORCES ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE USS WEST VIRGINIA, AFTER BEING MORTALLY WOUNDED, CAPTAIN BENNION EVIDENCED APPARENT CONCERN ONLY IN FIGHTING AND SAVING HIS SHIP, AND STRONGLY PROTESTED AGAINST BEING CARRIED FROM THE BRIDGE.