WW II Hero Visits Our Staff at Rhode Island Airport
News & Happenings
July 31, 2006
July 5 turned out to be a special day for our staff at T. F. Green Airport near Providence, R.I.: a rare visit from retired Lieutenant John Finn, U.S. Navy, one of our country's great war heroes.
Finn, 97, is the country's last surviving member of the 15 U.S. Navy officers and enlisted men who were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
In addition to visiting the staff, Finn was the honored guest at the 221st Annual Independence Day celebration held in Bristol, R.I. He was the first World War II Medal of Honor recipient to participate and be honored in Bristol's annual parade.
On December 7, 1941, Finn was a quarter of a mile away from the airfield at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii when he heard gunfire. Witnessing Japanese aircraft attacking Pearl Harbor, Finn organized his men, passed out machine guns and ammunition and joined the fight.
"...Lt. Finn promptly secured and manned a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy machine gun strafing fire," reads his citation. "Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man this gun and to return the enemy's fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard for his own personal safety… His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."
Finn sustained 22 wounds to his body by the time fighting ended that day and remained in the hospital for two weeks. Nine months later, Finn was promoted to lieutenant.
"My staff and I are very proud of you and all veterans of WWII," Federal Security Director Joseph Salter told Finn. "I am especially pleased that we could in some small way show you the honor that is due to you."
"The honor is all mine and your people are just wonderful for the great work they do protecting America," replied Finn.
