Medal of Honor: Mervyn S. Bennion – World War II – December 7, 1941
Mortally wounded on the bridge of USS West Virginia during the attack on Pearl Harbor, one captain refused evacuation — choosing instead to remain at his post, directing the fight to save his ship until his strength failed.
December 9, 2025
Name: Mervyn Sharp Bennion
Rank: Captain
Organization: U.S. Navy
Unit: Commanding Officer, USS West Virginia (BB-48)
Place and Date: Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii – 7 December 1941
Entered Service At: Appointed from Utah
Born: May 5, 1887 – Vernon, Utah
Departed: December 7, 1941 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: Utah
Summary of Action
On the morning of December 7, 1941, Captain Mervyn S. Bennion was commanding USS West Virginia when Japanese aircraft launched their surprise attack on Battleship Row. Early in the assault, a bomb fragment struck him with a mortal wound. Despite the severity of his injuries, Bennion refused to leave his bridge.
Barely able to stand, he focused solely on organizing the ship’s defense and damage-control efforts. When sailors attempted to move him to safety, he protested sharply, insisting he remain at his station so he could continue directing the fight to save his crew and his ship.
He remained on the bridge until he succumbed to his wounds — still concerned only with the battle and the survival of West Virginia.
Captain Bennion’s devotion to duty and refusal to abandon his post during catastrophic attack embodied the highest ideals of naval leadership.
Medal of Honor Citation
