Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941
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RADM Isaac J. Kidd USN
Posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor
"For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese Forces on December 7, 1941. He immediately went to the bridge and as Commander Battleship Division ONE, courageously discharged his duties as Senior Officer Present Afloat until the USS ARIZONA, his Flagship, blew up from magazine explosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge, which resulted in the loss of his life."
Uhhhh…. Wait a sec….
He did his job. He went to the control area of the ship, gave a bunch of orders, and got killed by a bomb.
He didn’t do anything special. Not to attack RADM Kidd - he didn't nominate himself for the Medal. But the Navy went too far. In fact, I think that RADM Kidd should never have had all of the battleships in port at once. The Fleet Commander had too many in Hawaii at once; and Kidd as Senior Officer Present Afloat (SOPA) should have dispersed those that had to be in Hawaii to other Hawaiian ports.
RADM Isaac J. Kidd USN
Posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor
"For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese Forces on December 7, 1941. He immediately went to the bridge and as Commander Battleship Division ONE, courageously discharged his duties as Senior Officer Present Afloat until the USS ARIZONA, his Flagship, blew up from magazine explosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge, which resulted in the loss of his life."
Uhhhh…. Wait a sec….
He did his job. He went to the control area of the ship, gave a bunch of orders, and got killed by a bomb.
He didn’t do anything special. Not to attack RADM Kidd - he didn't nominate himself for the Medal. But the Navy went too far. In fact, I think that RADM Kidd should never have had all of the battleships in port at once. The Fleet Commander had too many in Hawaii at once; and Kidd as Senior Officer Present Afloat (SOPA) should have dispersed those that had to be in Hawaii to other Hawaiian ports.
A lot of people died during the attack as a result of this mistake, and a lot more died in the Pacific in the two years it took for the U.S. to rebuild the fleet as a result.
Lots of other sailors, soldiers and Marines died in Pearl Harbor 65 years ago today, doing their jobs, without getting a medal. IMHO. I acknowledge the sacrifice of RADM Kidd, I honor his memory, and I hope that the Navy uses better judgment in conveying the nation's highest military honor now.
posted by Greg Finnegan @ 4:48 PM
2 Comments:
At 7:19 PM,
brendalove@gmail.com said…
Pearl Harbor Day makes me sad. I was watching some of the survivors that gathered today.
At 10:50 AM,
Greg Finnegan said…
Now here is a guy who deserved the Congressional Medal of Honor. A 23 year old Lieutenant:
Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. LCS(L)(3) 122 during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Ryukyu chain, 10 and 11 June 1945. Sharply vigilant during hostile air raids against Allied ships on radar picket duty off Okinawa on 10 June, Lt. McCool aided materially in evacuating all survivors from a sinking destroyer which had sustained mortal damage under the devastating attacks. When his own craft was attacked simultaneously by 2 of the enemy's suicide squadron early in the evening of 11 June, he instantly hurled the full power of his gun batteries against the plunging aircraft, shooting down the first and damaging the second before it crashed his station in the conning tower and engulfed the immediate area in a mass of flames. Although suffering from shrapnel wounds and painful burns, he rallied his concussion-shocked crew and initiated vigorous firefighting measures and then proceeded to the rescue of several trapped in a blazing compartment, subsequently carrying 1 man to safety despite the excruciating pain of additional severe burns. Unmindful of all personal danger, he continued his efforts without respite until aid arrived from other ships and he was evacuated. By his staunch leadership, capable direction, and indomitable determination throughout the crisis, Lt. McCool saved the lives of many who otherwise might have perished and contributed materially to the saving of his ship for further combat service. His valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of extreme peril sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."
He kept his Mc Cool, too!
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