Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
World War II - U.S. Navy
James Richard Ward
Details
- Rank: Seaman First Class
- Conflict/Era: World War II
- Unit/Command:
U.S.S. Oklahoma - Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
- Medal of Honor Action Date: December 7, 1941
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, USA
Citation
For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his 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, Ward 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: Springfield, Clark County, Ohio
- Awarded Posthumously: Yes
- Presentation Date & Details: March 1942
Medal of Honor mailed to his parents in Springfield, Ohio, accompanied by a letter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Secretary of Navy Frank Knox.
- Born: September 10, 1921, Springfield, Clark County, OH, United States
- Died: December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Territory)
- Buried: Remains not recovered from USS Oklahoma; National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) (Wall of the Missing), Honolulu, Hawaii; Ferncliff Cemetery ('In Memory' marker), Springfield, OH, United States
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