Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
World War II - U.S. Naval Reserve
Francis Charles Flaherty
Details
- Rank: Ensign
- Conflict/Era: World War II
- Unit/Command:
U.S.S. Oklahoma - Military Service Branch: U.S. Naval Reserve
- Medal of Honor Action Date: December 7, 1941
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, USA
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 7 December 1941. When it was seen that the U.S.S. Oklahoma was going to capsize and the order was given to abandon ship, Ens. Flaherty remained in a turret, holding a flashlight so the remainder of the turret crew could see to escape, thereby sacrificing his own life.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: Michigan
- Awarded Posthumously: Yes
- Presentation Date & Details: March 6, 1946
Presented to his Brother
- Born: March 15, 1919, Charlotte, Eaton County, MI, United States
- Died: December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, HI, Hawaii (Territory)
- Buried: Maple Hill Cemetery (reinterred from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), Honolulu, HI), Charlotte, MI, United States
- Location of Medal: Michigan Heroes Museum, Frankenmuth, MI