World War II Honoree

Nathan Green Gordon

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Morrilton, Arkansas

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. LIEUTENANT, U.S. NAVY, COMMANDER OF CATALINA PATROL PLANE. PLACE AND DATE: BISMARCK SEA, FEBRUARY 15, 1944. ENTERED SERVICE AT: ARKANSAS. BORN: SEPTEMBER 4, 1916, MORRILTON, ARKANSAS. CITATION: 'FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AS COMMANDER OF A CATALINA PATROL PLANE IN RESCUING PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. ARMY 5TH AIR FORCE SHOT DOWN IN COMBAT OVER KAVIENG HARBOR IN THE BISMARCK SEA, 15 FEBRUARY 1944. ON AIR ALERT IN THE VICINITY OF VITU ISLANDS, LIEUTENANT (THEN LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE) GORDON UNHESITATINGLY RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF THE CRASH AND FLEW BOLDLY INTO THE HARBOR, DEFYING CLOSE-RANGE FIRE FROM ENEMY SHORE GUNS TO MAKE 3 SEPARATE LANDINGS IN FULL VIEW OF THE JAPANESE AND PICK UP 9 MEN, SEVERAL OF THEM INJURED. WITH HIS CUMBERSOME FLYING BOAT DANGEROUSLY OVERLOADED, HE MADE A BRILLIANT TAKEOFF DESPITE HEAVY SWELLS AND ALMOST TOTAL ABSENCE OF WIND AND SET A COURSE FOR BASE, ONLY TO RECEIVE THE REPORT OF ANOTHER GROUP STRANDED IN A RUBBER LIFE RAFT 600 YARDS FROM THE ENEMY SHORE. PROMPTLY TURNING BACK, HE AGAIN RISKED HIS LIFE TO SET HIS PLANE DOWN UNDER DIRECT FIRE OF THE HEAVIEST DEFENSES OF KAVIENG AND TAKE ABOARD 6 MORE SURVIVORS, COOLLY MAKING HIS FOURTH DEXTEROUS TAKEOFF WITH 15 RESCUED OFFICERS AND MEN. BY HIS EXCEPTIONAL DARING, PERSONAL VALOR, AND INCOMPARABLE AIRMANSHIP UNDER MOST PERILOUS CONDITIONS, LIEUTENANT GORDON PREVENTED CERTAIN DEATH OR CAPTURE OF OUR AIRMEN BY THE JAPANESE.'