Day After Memorial Day

Memorial Day reminds me to remember the scores of men and women, including my grandfather, uncle, and a number of good friends, who have risked their lives for the freedom that I am blessed to enjoy.

One World War II veteran that I came across this weekend was Lt. John Finn. At 100, Finn was the oldest surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor – the nation’s highest honor for valor and the only recipient still alive among those who received the medal for his actions during the that attack on December 7, 1941.

Finn passed away last Thursday, May 27, and he will be known for defending the U.S. during the surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. Finn was stationed at the naval air station in Kaneohe Bay and awakened by an explosion during the morning of the attack. He immediately manned a machine gun and began firing on incoming Japanese attack planes as they flew in low to attack their primary target 15 miles away, the U.S. planes and ships in Pearl Harbor.

Finn stayed at his post for more than two hours firing on incoming Japanese Zeroes. And was credited for shooting one down.

More than 2,400 service members and civilians died in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the U.S. entry into World War II. By the end of the onslaught, Officer Finn had suffered more than 20 injuries, including a bullet wound in his left arm; a broken left foot; shrapnel to his chest, stomach, right elbow and thumb; and a laceration on his scalp.

“It was only by specific orders that he was persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention,” according to the Medal of Honor citation. “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.”

(Photo: Lt. Finn & his wife.)