World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Francis C. Flaherty
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Charlotte, Michigan
Honored By
Ralph Bozorth
HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. ENSIGN, U.S. NAVAL RESERVE. ACCREDITED TO: MICHIGAN. CITATION: FOR CONSPICUOUS DEVOTION TO DUTY AND 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. WHEN IT WAS SEEN THAT THE USS OKLAHOMA WAS GOING TO CAPSIZE AND THE ORDER WAS GIVEN TO ABANDON SHIP, ENSIGN FLAHERTY REMAINED IN A TURRET, HOLDING A FLASHLIGHT SO THE REMAINDER OF THE TURRET CREW COULD SEE TO ESCAPE, THEREBY SACRIFICING HIS OWN LIFE.