july sailor united_states_navy chief petty officer received united_states military highest decoration medal honor actions attack pearl harbor world war chief aviation stationed naval air station earned medal manning machine gun exposed position attack despite repeatedly wounded continued serve navy commissioned ensign reverted chief petty officer eventually rising lieutenant retirement later years appearances events celebrating veterans time death finn oldest living medal honor recipient living recipient attack pearl harbor early life born july california finn dropped school seventh grade enlisted navy july shortly seventeenth birthday completed recruit training san_diego brief stint ceremonial guard company attended training naval station great lakes graduating december april san_diego area having assigned naval air station north island initially worked aircraft repair aviation working anti aircraft guns served series ships uss lexington uss houston uss jason uss uss cincinnati finn promoted chief petty officer highest enlisted rank navy time years active duty later commented promotions everybody thought boy wonder right place right time chief finn served patrol squadrons san_diego washington panama attack pearl harbor december finn stationed naval air station island hawaii chief aviation charge men primary task maintain weapons flying boat squadron morning sunday december finn home mile aircraft heard sound gunfire finn recalled neighbor alert knocked door saying want squadron right away drove catching sight japanese planes sky way found attacked fire finn men trying fight machine guns mounted firing inside planes guns mounting improvised stands finn later explained things control machine gun squadron painter said alex let gun knew experience firing machine gun painter finding platform gunnery training finn attached caliber machine gun pushed platform open area clear view attacking aircraft fired japanese planes hours seriously wounded attack ended total received distinct wounds including bullet right foot injury left shoulder caused lose feeling left arm got gun started shooting planes finn said interview shooting planes target said cases japanese pilots faces despite wounds finn returned later day receiving medical treatment helped arm surviving american planes actions earned medal honor awarded world war formally presented decoration september admiral courage duty ceremony took place pearl harbor board uss enterprise finn commissioned served limited duty officer rank ensign reverted enlisted rank chief petty officer eventually lieutenant aboard uss retired navy lieutenant september later life legacy shortly death finn resided acre km2 ranch near california wife foster parents native american children causing embraced tribe people san_diego wife died member retirement appearances events honoring veterans march attended national medal honor day ceremonies arlington national cemetery aid walking sticks stood president barack_obama laying ceremony tomb unknown soldier later day finn guest white house visit white_house time meeting sitting president june crowd family friends came celebrate finn 100th birthday presented american flag flown aircraft carriers active service called hero interview finn responded damned hero stuff bunch guess got understand kinds heroes chance hero position finn died age morning buried wife cemetery memorial service surviving medal honor recipient attack pearl harbor oldest living recipient aviation received medal death fellow world war veteran oldest living medal honor recipient namesake headquarters building commander patrol reconnaissance force marine_corps base hawaii named finn honor boat bring visitors uss arizona memorial named year named buildings naval training center san diego named john alice finn office plaza february secretary navy ray announced destroyer named uss john finn honor awards decorations finn received following awards decorations medal honor citation extraordinary heroism distinguished service devotion duty attack japanese naval air station territory hawaii december promptly secured manned caliber machine gun mounted instruction stand completely exposed section parking ramp heavy enemy machine gun fire wounded times continued man gun return enemy fire vigorously telling effect enemy bombing attacks complete disregard personal safety specific orders persuaded leave post seek medical attention following aid treatment obviously suffering pain moving great difficulty returned squadron area actively supervised returning planes extraordinary heroism conduct action considered keeping highest traditions
John William Finn