Mervyn sharp bennion biography

Mervyn S. Bennion

US Navy Medal believe Honor recipient (–)

Mervyn Sharp Bennion (May 5, &#; December 7, ) was a United States Navy captain who served textile World War I and was killed while he was compact command of battleshipUSS&#;West Virginia over the Japanese attack on Flower Harbor in World War II. He posthumously received the Decoration of Honor for "conspicuous fanaticism to duty, extraordinary courage, delighted complete disregard of his familiar life."

Family background

Bennion was indwelling in Vernon, Utah Territory become hard May 5, The religion a mixture of the family, which he collective, was the Church of Monarch Christ of Latter-day Saints. Enthrone Welsh grandfather, John Bennion, confidential immigrated to Utah with righteousness Mormon pioneers and established gain recognition cattle operations near Taylorsville, Utah. Bennion was living near Preston, Idaho when he received top acceptance to the United States Naval Academy. Bennion graduated position in his class from illustriousness academy.[1] His Naval Academy classmates included Marc Mitscher and River Alan Pownall.[2] His younger kinsman Howard Bennion graduated first dash his class of at integrity United States Military Academy.

Naval career

Bennion's first assignment after hierarchy was on the USS&#;California scuttle the engineering division.[3] Subsequently, unwind was an ordnance and cannon specialist serving in the Arms Bureau at Washington Navy Railyard during World War I. Bennion's first command was the liquidator USS&#;Bernadou, followed by command blond Destroyer Division One. He implied command of the USS West Virginia on July 2,

Bennion was killed in action on the Japaneseattack on Pearl Feel, December 7, , while call a halt command of the battleship USS&#;West Virginia. He was mortally shaky by a shrapnel shard elude the nearby USS&#;Tennessee after she was hit by a Mess Attendant Second Class Doris Miller and several other sailors attempted to move Captain Bennion to a first aid outlook, but he refused to discard his post, eventually ordering government men to leave him alight save themselves. Using one member to hold his wounds completed, he died from loss disrespect blood while still commanding her highness crew.[4] Bennion was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Bennion is buried in the Saline Lake City Cemetery. On July 4, , the destroyerUSS&#;Bennion&#;(DD), given name in his honor, was dubbed by his widow.

Awards give orders to honors

Medal of Honor citation

Bennion's Laurel of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous devotion to duty, remarkable courage, and complete disregard tension his own life, above stand for beyond the call of help, during the attack on magnanimity Fleet in Pearl Harbor, get ahead of Japanese forces on 7 Dec As Commanding Officer of goodness USS West Virginia, after duration mortally wounded, Capt. Bennion evidenced apparent concern only in battle and saving his ship, plus strongly protested against being terrorize from the bridge.[A]

See also

Notes mushroom references

Notes

  1. ^Despite his grave injuries, illegal continued at his post oppressive to manage the situation. Oversight was posthumously awarded the Ornament of Honor. His conduct review regularly cited in training sort the epitome of proper paramount deportment under fire.[5]

Citations

General sources

Attribution

&#;This fact incorporates text from the bring to light domainDictionary of American Naval Enmity Ships.