Medal of Honor: John W. Finn – World War II – December 7, 1941

Name: John William Finn
Rank: Lieutenant (then Chief Aviation Ordnanceman)
Organization: U.S. Navy
Unit: Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay
Place and Date: Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii – 7 December 1941
Entered Service At: California
Born: July 23, 1909 – Los Angeles, California
Departed: May 27, 2010
Accredited To: California

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Summary of Action

On the morning of December 7, 1941, as Japanese aircraft swept over Kaneohe Bay during the opening attack on Pearl Harbor, Aviation Ordnanceman John W. Finn reacted instantly. Without cover, he ran to an instruction stand where a .50-caliber machine gun was mounted and swung it into action on the exposed aircraft parking ramp.

Enemy fighters raked the field with machine-gun fire and bombs, and Finn was hit repeatedly by strafing runs. Despite painful wounds to his arm, chest, and feet, he held his position and continued firing, pouring accurate bursts at passing aircraft and disrupting enemy attack patterns. His steady fire became one of the earliest and most determined acts of resistance that morning.

Only under direct orders did he finally leave the gun to seek medical treatment. After receiving first aid — still bleeding, barely able to walk — Finn refused rest and returned to the squadron area to supervise the rearming of surviving aircraft, ensuring the base could continue the fight.

John W. Finn’s courage made him the first Medal of Honor recipient of World War II.

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Medal of Honor 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 are considered to be in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.