Oldest Medal of Honor recipient, 100, downplays 'hero' talk
Story Highlights
In Pearl Harbor attack, John Finn was wounded in head and limbs but fought on
Finn's medal citation states he continued to "return the enemy's fire vigorously"
Congressional Medal of Honor Society Convention is in Chicago this week
By Larry Shaughnessy
CNN
PINE VALLEY, California (CNN) -- Dozens of America's greatest military heroes are gathered in Chicago, Illinois, possibly the last large gathering of living Medal of Honor recipients.
Among the men with light blue ribbons holding a star around their necks signifying uncommon bravery, will be John Finn.
Finn, who received the nation's highest medal for valor for his actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, turned 100 this summer, the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient.
Finn was a lieutenant stationed at Kanoehe Bay Naval Air Station, where the Japanese struck five minutes before attacking Pearl Harbor, across southeast Oahu Island from Kanoehe Bay.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/15/finn.medal.of.honor/index.html
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ReplyDeleteAmerica's oldest living Medal of Honor recipient, living his 101st year is former enlisted Chief Petty Officer, Aviation Chief Ordnanceman (ACOM), later wartime commissioned Lieutenant John W. Finn, U. S. Navy (Ret.). He is also the last surviving Medal of Honor, "The Day of Infamy", Japanese Attack on the Hawaiian Islands, Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
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San Diego, California
I would love to meet Lt. John Finn and just tell him thank you. A true winner is not one who for rewards he does what he does but,to protects others at the risk to his own death. When he is honored with it he carries the hearts of the dead the living and the ones to come. A real true hero. Thank you
ReplyDeleteJames Redus S.A.P.D.
Thank you for the comment. You're right. Real heroes don't want anything in return because they know when it was their time to act, they wouldn't have been able to live with not doing it, so it was just "part" of who they were. Some say they had no choice and this is what they meant.
ReplyDeleteWe have so few left. One of them passed away and his story was posted on my blog today.
Alejandro Ruiz.
http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com/2010/03/medal-of-honor-alejandro-ruizs-family.html
His family received a bill from the VA for taking care of him in his last days. Makes my heart sick to read it.