James R. Ward
James Richard Ward (September 10, 1921 – December 7, 1941) was a US Navy sailor who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
James Richard Ward | |
|---|---|
 Seaman First Class James R. Ward, Medal of Honor recipient | |
| Born | September 10, 1921 Springfield, Ohio |
| Died | December 7, 1941 (aged 20) Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii |
| Place of burial | listed in Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii. A cenotaph has been placed in Ferncliff Cemetery, in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1940 – 1941 |
| Rank |  Seaman First Class |
| Unit | USS Oklahoma |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor |
Biography
Ward enlisted in the United States Navy at Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 25, 1940. After basic training, he reported on board the battleship USS Oklahoma (BB-37).
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Oklahoma took three torpedoes soon after the attack began. She listed dangerously, and it was soon apparent that she would capsize. The order was given to abandon ship, but Seaman First Class Ward remained in a turret holding a flashlight, thus sacrificing his own life to permit other members of the crew to escape. For his heroism at that time, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor.
On August 19, 2021, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Seaman First Class James Richard Ward.
Awards and honors
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 |
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| Medal of Honor | Purple Heart | ||||
| American Defense Service Medal w/ Fleet clasp |
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ campaign star |
World War II Victory Medal | |||
Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and complete disregard of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. When it was seen that the U.S.S. Oklahoma was going to capsize and the order was given to abandon ship, Ward remained in a turret holding a flashlight so the remainder of the turret crew could see to escape, thereby sacrificing his own life.
Namesake
In 1943, the destroyer escort USS J. Richard Ward (DE-243), was named in honor of Seaman First Class Ward.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- "James Richard Ward, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Historical Center, Department of the Navy". Retrieved September 29, 2010.
External links
- "History.navy.mil/photos: James Richard Ward". Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
- "James R. Ward". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2008-02-24.