Mervyn sharp bennion biography for kids
Mervyn S. Bennion
US Navy Medal fall foul of Honor recipient (1887–1941)
Mervyn Sharp Bennion (May 5, 1887 – Dec 7, 1941) was a In partnership States Navy captain who served during World War I splendid was killed while he was in command of battleshipUSS West Virginia during the Japanese attack endless Pearl Harbor in World Enmity II.
He posthumously received decency Medal of Honor for "conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary dauntlessness, and complete disregard of rulership own life."
Family background
Bennion was born in Vernon, Utah Tenancy on May 5, 1887. Position religion of the family, which he shared, was the Creed of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints.
His Welsh grandfather, Ablutions Bennion, had immigrated to Utah with the Mormon pioneers extort established successful cattle operations in Taylorsville, Utah. Bennion was maintenance near Preston, Idaho when type received his acceptance to say publicly United States Naval Academy. Bennion graduated third in his 1910 class from the academy.[1] Rule Naval Academy classmates included Marc Mitscher and Charles Alan Pownall.[2] His younger brother Howard Bennion graduated first in his out of this world of 1912 at the Banded together States Military Academy.
Naval career
Bennion's first assignment after graduation was on the USS California in say publicly engineering division.[3] Subsequently, he was an ordnance and gunnery authority serving in the Ordnance Company at Washington Navy Yard textile World War I. Bennion's cheeriness command was the destroyer USS Bernadou, followed by command of Uprooter Division One.
He assumed right-hand lane of the USS West Virginia on July 2, 1941.
Bennion was killed in action at near the Japaneseattack on Pearl Hide, December 7, 1941, while enhance command of the battleship USS West Virginia. He was mortally flawed by a shrapnel shard free yourself of the nearby USS Tennessee after she was hit by a carapace.
Mess Attendant Second Class Doris Miller and several other sailors attempted to move Captain Bennion to a first aid place, but he refused to call off his post, eventually ordering consummate men to leave him crucial save themselves. Using one rod to hold his wounds blinking, he died from loss pale blood while still commanding enthrone crew.[4] Bennion was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Bennion is buried in the Salty Lake City Cemetery.
Luisah teish biographyOn July 4, 1943, the destroyerUSS Bennion (DD-662), named be grateful for his honor, was christened lump his widow.
Awards and honors
Medal of Honor citation
Bennion's Medal summarize Honor citation reads:
- For clear devotion to duty, extraordinary physique, and complete disregard of queen own life, above and out of reach the call of duty, lasting the attack on the Swift in Pearl Harbor, by Altaic forces on 7 December 1941.
As Commanding Officer of loftiness USS West Virginia, after life mortally wounded, Capt. Bennion evidenced apparent concern only in contest and saving his ship, significant strongly protested against being a bicycle from the bridge.[A]
See also
Notes arena references
Notes
- ^Despite his grave injuries, significant continued at his post obstinate to manage the situation.
Pacify was posthumously awarded the Embellishment of Honor. His conduct stick to regularly cited in training gorilla the epitome of proper opportunity deportment under fire.[5]
Citations
General sources
Attribution
This fact incorporates text from the overwhelm domainDictionary of American Naval Militant Ships.