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Ross, Donald Kirby

Date of birth:
December 8th, 1910 (Beverly/Kansas, United States)
Date of death:
May 27th, 1992 (Bremerton/Washington, United States)
Nationality:
American

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Machinist
Unit:
U.S.S. Nevada (BB-36), U.S. Navy
"For distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage and disregard of his own life during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. When his station in the forward dynamo room of the U.S.S. Nevada became almost untenable due to smoke, steam, and heat, Machinist Ross forced his men to leave that station and performed all the duties himself until blinded and unconscious. Upon being rescued and resuscitated, he returned and secured the forward dynamo room and proceeded to the after dynamo room where he was later again rendered unconscious by exhaustion. Again recovering consciousness he returned to his station where he remained until directed to abandon it."
Medal of Honor - Navy/Marine Corps (MoH)
Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

1 silver star
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

2 bronze stars
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
National Defense Service Medal (NDSM)

Sources

  • - Jordan, Kenneth N., Yesterday’s Heroes – 433 men of World War II awarded the Medal of Honor 1941-1945, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., USA, 1996

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