USN Names Destroyer for US WWII MOH Winner

PEARL HARBOR (July 10, 2017) The future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in preparation for its commissioning ceremony. DDG 113 is named in honor of Lt. John William Finn, who as a chief aviation ordnanceman was the first member of our armed services to earn the Medal of Honor during World War II for heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Randi Brown/Released)

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Just over 75 years ago, John Finn manned a machine gun for two hours firing at Japanese planes strafing him and attacking Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay on Oahu.

On the other side of the island, Japanese bombers and torpedo planes laid waste to Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor during the Dec. 7, 1941, surprise attack. On the windward side the island, enemy aircraft ravaged Finn's body with almost two dozen wounds.

Lt. John Finn (Ret.) pays his respects to the Sailors and Marines killed aboard USS Arizona during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor in 2007. USN photo

A Navy chief aviation ordnanceman, Finn was awarded the first Medal of Honor of World War II. He survived the attack and his wounds, living to the ripe age of 100 when he died in 2010.

On July 8th the Navy commissioned the USS John Finn, its latest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer.