Oldest Medal of Honor recipient from World War II dies

allesennogwat · 05-27-2010, 03:34 PM

SAN DIEGO – Retired Navy Lt. John Finn, the oldest Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, died Thursday at his southern California ranch. He was 100.

Finn was the first man to receive the nation's highest military award for heroism during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He was the oldest of 97 Medal of Honor recipients still living.

Despite head wounds and other injuries, Finn, the chief of ordnance for an air squadron, continuously fired a .50-caliber machine gun from an exposed position as bullets and bombs pounded the base at Kaneohe Bay in Oahu. He then supervised the rearming of returning American planes.

"Here they're paying you for doing your duty, and that's what I did," Finn told The Associated Press before his 100th birthday. "I never intended to be a hero. But on Dec. 7, by God, we're in a war."

Finn received the Medal of Honor on Sept. 15, 1942, from then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

He retired from the Navy in 1947, but continued to help young sailors, Lt. Aaron Kakiel said.

"He's been a real inspiration to a number of our aviation ordnance men and an example for the entire Navy," he said.

Born July 23, 1909, in Los Angeles, Finn lived for 50 years on his ranch near Live Oak Springs, outside San Diego.

He will be buried with full military honors. Kakiel said the Navy was still working with his family members on the details.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100527/..._obit_war_hero

545x39 · 05-28-2010, 11:45 AM

rest in peace, sir

KalashnikovMarine · 05-28-2010, 12:42 PM

IYAOYAS!

05-27-2010, 03:34 PM	#1
allesennogwat Curio & Relic AKaholic #: 3738 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 32,167	Oldest Medal of Honor recipient from World War II dies SAN DIEGO – Retired Navy Lt. John Finn, the oldest Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, died Thursday at his southern California ranch. He was 100. Finn was the first man to receive the nation's highest military award for heroism during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He was the oldest of 97 Medal of Honor recipients still living. Despite head wounds and other injuries, Finn, the chief of ordnance for an air squadron, continuously fired a .50-caliber machine gun from an exposed position as bullets and bombs pounded the base at Kaneohe Bay in Oahu. He then supervised the rearming of returning American planes. "Here they're paying you for doing your duty, and that's what I did," Finn told The Associated Press before his 100th birthday. "I never intended to be a hero. But on Dec. 7, by God, we're in a war." Finn received the Medal of Honor on Sept. 15, 1942, from then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He retired from the Navy in 1947, but continued to help young sailors, Lt. Aaron Kakiel said. "He's been a real inspiration to a number of our aviation ordnance men and an example for the entire Navy," he said. Born July 23, 1909, in Los Angeles, Finn lived for 50 years on his ranch near Live Oak Springs, outside San Diego. He will be buried with full military honors. Kakiel said the Navy was still working with his family members on the details. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100527/..._obit_war_hero __________________ Daraclor: A brand of anti-malaria pills which we had to drink every week while on the border. Legend had it that these would make you turn yellow and that you wouldn't be able to tan.

05-28-2010, 12:42 PM	#3
KalashnikovMarine Veteran Member AKaholic #: 54613 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Around Posts: 1,371	IYAOYAS! __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms. . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." -- Thomas Jefferson Bona Na Croin: Neither Collar Nor Crown Sight alignment, breath, slow steady squeeze, life is simple Marine, Oath Keeper, Gun Owner

05-28-2010, 11:45 AM	#2
545x39 Member AKaholic #: 69115 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: belpre ohio Posts: 336	rest in peace, sir

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