It was the pivotal event of an entire generation, and it happened in early December on a quiet, sleepy Sunday morning in a tropical paradise two thousand miles off the west coast of America. At 7:55 A.M. fighters and bombers marked with the insignia of the rising sun flew across a harbor in Hawaii bombing
The praise that Coolidge received from his peers in the military, from journalists, and from those who admired him was hard earned.
The shy young man who had been described as the best rock-thrower in the neighborhood blossomed into a leader of men. At age 23, he found himself unexpectedly as the senior enlisted man leading a group of young recruits against a German infantry. Coolidge’s troops were outnumbered 4-1.
Photos: The 15 men awarded the Medal Of Honor for heroics on Dec. 7
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Captain Mervyn Sharp Bennion was commanding Officer of the U.S.S. West Virginia. After being mortally wounded, Capt. Bennion evidenced apparent concern only in fighting and saving his ship, and resisted being carried from the bridge.