John William Finn 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.
John William Finn, American lieutenant, Medal of Honor recipient (died 2010)
On July 24, in the year 1909, John William Finn, American lieutenant, Medal of Honor recipient (died 2010). This event is recorded as a Notable Births event in the history of July 24, one of 328 recorded events on this date across all of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including John William Finn. Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on July 24, 1909 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Births event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 2 Wikipedia articles.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 22 May 2026.
On This Date in History 328
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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