John William Finn (24 July 1909 – 27 May 2010) was a sailor in the United States Navy who, as a chief petty officer and aviation ordnanceman, received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II. Though ordnancemen are only responsible for performing maintenance on guns and handling of munitions, Finn – when the Japanese bombed Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay during the 7 December attack – earned the medal by firing a machine gun from an exposed position throughout the attack, despite being repeatedly wounded. He continued to serve in the Navy and in 1942 was commissioned an ensign. In 1947 he was reverted to chief petty officer, eventually rising to lieutenant before his 1956 retirement. In his later years he made many appearances at events celebrating veterans. At the time of his death, Finn was the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient, the last living recipient from the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the last living United States Navy recipient of World War II.
Finn was promoted to chief petty officer (E-7, the highest enlisted rank in the Navy at that time[9]) in 1935 after only nine years of active duty. He later commented on his promotions, "Everybody thought I was a boy wonder. I was just in the right place at the right time."[10] As a chief, Finn served with patrol squadrons in San Diego, Washington, and Panama.[5][11]
By December 1941, Finn was stationed at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. As a chief aviation ordnanceman, he was in charge of twenty men whose primary task was to maintain the weapons of VP-11, a PBY Catalinaflying boat squadron. At 7:48 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, 7 December 1941, Finn was at his home, about a mile from the aircraft hangars, when he heard the sound of gunfire. Finn recalled how a neighbor was the first to alert him, when she knocked on his door saying, "They want you down at the squadron right away!" He drove to the hangars, catching sight of Japanese planes in the sky on the way, and found that the airbase was being attacked, with most of the PBYs already on fire.[4][11][12]
Finn's men were trying to fight back by using the machine guns mounted in the PBYs, either by firing from inside the flaming planes or by detaching the guns and mounting them on improvised stands. Finn later explained that one of the first things he did was to take control of a machine gun from his squadron's painter. "I said, 'Alex, let me take that gun' ... knew that I had more experience firing a machine gun than a painter."[11][12]
Finding a movable tripod platform used for gunnery training, Finn attached the .50 caliber machine gun and pushed the platform into an open area, from which he had a clear view of the attacking aircraft. He fired on the Japanese planes for the next two hours, even after being seriously wounded, until the attack had ended. In total, he received 21 distinct wounds, including a bullet through his right foot and an injury to his left shoulder, which caused him to lose feeling in his left arm.[4]
"I got that gun and I started shooting at Jap planes," Finn said in a 2009 interview. "I was out there shooting the Jap planes and just every so often I was a target for some," he said, "In some cases, I could see their [the Japanese pilots'] faces."[12]
Despite his wounds, Finn returned to the hangars later that day. After receiving medical treatment, he helped arm the surviving American planes.[4][11] His actions earned him the first Medal of Honor to be awarded in World War II.[13][14][15] He was formally presented with the decoration on 14 September 1942, by Admiral Chester Nimitz, for courage and valor beyond the call of duty. The ceremony took place in Pearl Harbor on board USS Enterprise.[4][11]
In 1942 Finn was commissioned, and served as a Limited Duty Officer with the rank of ensign. In 1947 he was reverted to his enlisted rank of chief petty officer, eventually becoming a lieutenant with Bombing Squadron VB-102 and aboard USS Hancock. He retired from the Navy as a lieutenant in September 1956.[11]
In his retirement he made many appearances at events honoring veterans.[17] On 25 March 2009, he attended National Medal of Honor Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. With the aid of walking sticks, he stood beside U.S. President Barack Obama during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Later that day, Finn was a guest at the White House. It was his first visit to the White House, and his first time meeting a sitting president.[11]
On 27 June 2009, a crowd of over 2,000 made up of family, friends and well-wishers came to Pine Valley to celebrate Finn's 100th birthday. The Association of Aviation Ordnancemen presented him with an American flag which had flown on each of the 11 aircraft carriers then in active service.[18]
When called a hero during a 2009 interview Finn responded:
That damned hero stuff is a bunch [of] crap, I guess. [...] You gotta understand that there's all kinds of heroes, but they never get a chance to be in a hero's position.[12]
Hearse carrying the remains of Finn.
Finn died at age 100 on the morning of 27 May 2010, at the Chula Vista Veterans Home.[17] He was buried beside his wife at the Campo Indian Reservation's cemetery, after a memorial service in El Cajon.[19] He was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the attack on Pearl Harbor, the oldest living recipient, and the only aviation ordnanceman to have ever received the medal.[20] Upon his death, fellow World War II veteran Barney F. Hajiro became the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient.[11][17]
For extraordinary heroism, distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, he 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. 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. It was only by specific orders that he was persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention. Following first-aid treatment, although obviously suffering much pain and moving with great difficulty, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the rearming of returning planes. His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action are considered to be in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.[25]
^"List by Alphabet ( F-J )". Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States. 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2013. FINN, John William (World War II) Saint Carmel Cemetery (Campo Reservation Cemetery), Live Oak Springs, California
^Tucker, Lester B. (1993). "History of the Chief Petty Officer". Pull Together: Newsletter of the Naval Historical Foundation and the Naval Historical Center. Vol. 32, no. 1. Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020 – via Naval History and Heritage Command.
^"John Finn". www.quarterdeck.org. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
^ abcdefghPerry, Tony (29 May 2010). "WWII veteran, the oldest surviving Medal of Honor recipient, dies at 100". The Virginian Pilot via the Los Angeles Times. p. 6.
^ ab"John Finn". American Valor. GWETA. 2003. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
^Doug Sterner (2013). "History". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2013. Julie Watson (28 May 2010). "John Finn dies — earned WWII Medal of Honor". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
