Medal of Honor: Donald Arthur Gary – U.S. Navy – World War II

Name: Donald Arthur Gary
Rank: Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Branch: U.S. Navy
Unit: USS Franklin (CV-13)
Place: Near Kobe, Japan
Entered Service At: Ohio
Born: 23 July 1903, Findlay, Ohio

Summary of Action

On 19 March 1945, while operating near the Japanese Home Islands, the aircraft carrier USS Franklin was struck by enemy bombs, triggering catastrophic secondary explosions from armed aircraft, rockets, and ammunition on deck.

Deep within the ship, Lt. (j.g.) Donald A. Gary was stationed on the third deck when the blasts ripped through the vessel, trapping hundreds of sailors in a smoke-filled compartment with no visible escape.

With fire raging, explosions continuing, and panic spreading among the trapped men, Gary made a decision.

He would find a way out.

Moving alone through dark, debris-choked passageways, he searched for an escape route. Against overwhelming odds, he located a viable path to safety.

But he did not simply lead a few men out.

He went back.

Three separate times, Gary re-entered the smoke-filled compartment—through flames, rising water, and the constant threat of further explosions—calmly guiding groups of trapped sailors through the darkness until every man was saved.

Even after evacuating hundreds from certain death, he continued to act.

He organized and led firefighting efforts on the burning flight deck and later entered a damaged fireroom to help raise steam, restoring critical power to the stricken ship under extreme hazard.

Through his leadership and unwavering courage, hundreds of lives were saved aboard one of the most heavily damaged carriers to survive the war.

Medal of Honor Citation

GARY, DONALD ARTHUR

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as an engineering officer attached to the U.S.S. Franklin when that vessel was fiercely attacked by enemy aircraft during the operations against the Japanese Home Islands near Kobe, Japan, 19 March 1945. Stationed on the third deck when the ship was rocked by a series of violent explosions set off in her own ready bombs, rockets, and ammunition by the hostile attack, Lt. (j.g.) Gary unhesitatingly risked his life to assist several hundred men trapped in a messing compartment filled with smoke, and with no apparent egress. As the imperiled men below decks became increasingly panic stricken under the raging fury of incessant explosions, he confidently assured them he would find a means of effecting their release and, groping through the dark, debris-filled corridors, ultimately discovered an escapeway. Stanchly determined, he struggled back to the messing compartment 3 times despite menacing flames, flooding water, and the ominous threat of sudden additional explosions, on each occasion calmly leading his men through the blanketing pall of smoke until the last one had been saved. Selfless in his concern for his ship and his fellows, he constantly rallied others about him, repeatedly organized and led fire-fighting parties into the blazing inferno on the flight deck and, when firerooms 1 and 2 were found to be inoperable, entered the No. 3 fireroom and directed the raising of steam in 1 boiler in the face of extreme difficulty and hazard. An inspiring and courageous leader, Lt. (j.g.) Gary rendered self-sacrificing service under the most perilous conditions and, by his heroic initiative, fortitude, and valor, was responsible for the saving of several hundred lives. His conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and upon the U.S. Naval Service.