RIP Lt. John W. Finn

On this weekend in particular, it is appropriate to commemorate a man who won the Medal of Honor after being wounded more than 20 times during the battle of Pearl Harbor.

Finn died on Thursday at age 100. On Dec. 7, 1941, he was a chief petty officer in charge of aviation ordnance and munitions at Kaneohe Bay. When the station was attacked, he rushed to the scene, set up a machine gun and fired at Japanese planes for two-and-a-half hours.

His injuries included a bullet wound in his left arm, a broken left foot, a scalp laceration, and shrapnel in his chest, stomach, right elbow and thumb.

After being ordered away from his post so he could receive medical attention, he returned to the battle, helping to rearm American planes.

RIP, Lt. Finn. And thank you.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/28/AR2010052804477.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/us/28finn.html

 

Holy schmokies.