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TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |

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Born: August 05, 1913 at
Baltimore, MD
Entered Service in the US
Navy from Maryland
Earned
The Medal of Honor During World War II For heroism May 08,
1942 at Coral Sea
Died: May
08, 1942 at the age of 28
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Lieutenant
Ricketts was Officer-in-Charge of the Engineering Repair Party
of the U.S.S. Yorktown in action against enemy Japanese forces
in the Battle of the Coral Sea. During the severe bombarding of
the Yorktown by Japanese forces, an aerial bomb passed through
and exploded directly beneath the compartment in which
Lieutenant Ricketts' battle station was located, killing,
wounding or stunning all of his men and mortally wounding him.
Despite his ebbing strength, Lieutenant Ricketts promptly opened
the valve of a near-by fireplug, partially led out the fire hose
and directed a heavy stream of water into the fire before
dropping dead beside the hose. His courageous action undoubtedly
prevented the rapid spread of fire to serious proportions.
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