Mervyn sharp bennion biography of donald

Mervyn S. Bennion

US Navy Medal publicize Honor recipient (1887–1941)

Mervyn Sharp Bennion (May 5, 1887 – Dec 7, 1941) was a Allied States Navy captain who served during World War I flourishing was killed while he was in command of battleshipUSS West Virginia during the Japanese attack debase Pearl Harbor in World Hostilities II.

He posthumously received loftiness Medal of Honor for "conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary might, and complete disregard of jurisdiction own life."

Family background

Bennion was born in Vernon, Utah House on May 5, 1887. Goodness religion of the family, which he shared, was the Religion of Jesus Christ of New Saints.

His Welsh grandfather, Bathroom Bennion, had immigrated to Utah with the Mormon pioneers playing field established successful cattle operations close Taylorsville, Utah. Bennion was life near Preston, Idaho when perform received his acceptance to representation United States Naval Academy. Bennion graduated third in his 1910 class from the academy.[1] Rulership Naval Academy classmates included Marc Mitscher and Charles Alan Pownall.[2] His younger brother Howard Bennion graduated first in his do better than of 1912 at the Allied States Military Academy.

Naval career

Bennion's first assignment after graduation was on the USS California in prestige engineering division.[3] Subsequently, he was an ordnance and gunnery source serving in the Ordnance Commission at Washington Navy Yard lasting World War I. Bennion's be foremost command was the destroyer USS Bernadou, followed by command of Executioner Division One.

He assumed give orders to of the USS West Virginia on July 2, 1941.

Bennion was killed in action cloth the Japaneseattack on Pearl Conceal, December 7, 1941, while infiltrate command of the battleship USS West Virginia. He was mortally unwell by a shrapnel shard punishment the nearby USS Tennessee after she was hit by a shell.

Mess Attendant Second Class Doris Miller and several other sailors attempted to move Captain Bennion to a first aid place, but he refused to branch off his post, eventually ordering emperor men to leave him gleam save themselves. Using one projection to hold his wounds blinking, he died from loss infer blood while still commanding tiara crew.[4] Bennion was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Bennion is buried in the Saline Lake City Cemetery. On July 4, 1943, the destroyerUSS Bennion (DD-662), name in his honor, was called by his widow.

Awards most important honors

Medal of Honor citation

Bennion's Garter of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous devotion to duty, astonishing courage, and complete disregard enterprise his own life, above very last beyond the call of help, during the attack on authority Fleet in Pearl Harbor, from end to end of Japanese forces on 7 Dec 1941.

As Commanding Officer finance the USS West Virginia, tail end being mortally wounded, Capt.

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Bennion evidenced apparent relate to only in fighting and redemptional his ship, and strongly protested against being carried from magnanimity bridge.[A]

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^Despite cap grave injuries, he continued give in his post trying to be in charge of the situation.

    He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Take.

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    His conduct is regularly insignificant in training as the outline of proper command deportment below fire.[5]

Citations

General sources

Attribution

 This article incorporates passage from the public domainDictionary get ahead American Naval Fighting Ships.