John Finn, Medal of Honor recipient turning 100

Medal of Honor recipient turning 100

The Associated Press
Posted : Friday May 29, 2009 16:54:26 EDT

ALTAMONT, N.Y. — John Finn, Frank Currey and Nick Oresko are members of an exclusive club that tends to shrink when the nation isn't at war. And of the less than 100 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, Finn is the most exclusive of all, as he nears his 100th birthday.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/05/ap_moh_recipient_100_052909/
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the

Medal of Honor

to

FINN, JOHN WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941. Entered service at: California. Born: 24 July 1909, Los Angeles, Calif.

Citation:

For extraordinary heroism distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, on 7 December 1941, Lt. Finn promptly secured and manned a .50-caliber machinegun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy machinegun strafing fire. Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man this gun and to return the enemy's fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard for his own personal safety. It was only by specific orders that he was persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention. Following first aid treatment, although obviously suffering much pain and moving with great difficulty, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the rearming of returning planes. His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_living/ii_n_finn.html