The President of the United States
in the name of
The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
ANTRIM, RICHARD NOTT
Rank and organization: Commander, U.S.
Navy. Place and date: Makassar, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, April 1942. Entered
service at: Indiana. Born: 17 December 1907, Peru, Ind.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty while interned as a prisoner of war of the enemy Japanese in the city of
Makassar, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, in April 1942. Acting instantly on behalf of a
naval officer who was subjected to a vicious clubbing by a frenzied Japanese guard venting
his insane wrath upon the helpless prisoner, Comdr. (then Lt.) Antrim boldly intervened,
attempting to quiet the guard and finally persuading him to discuss the charges against
the officer. With the entire Japanese force assembled and making extraordinary
preparations for the threatened beating, and with the tension heightened by 2,700 Allied
prisoners rapidly closing in, Comdr. Antrim courageously appealed to the fanatic enemy,
risking his own life in a desperate effort to mitigate the punishment. When the other had
been beaten unconscious by 15 blows of a hawser and was repeatedly kicked by 3 soldiers to
a point beyond which he could not survive, Comdr. Antrim gallantly stepped forward and
indicated to the perplexed guards that he would take the remainder of the punishment,
throwing the Japanese completely off balance in their amazement and eliciting a roar of
acclaim from the suddenly inspired Allied prisoners. By his fearless leadership and
valiant concern for the welfare of another, he not only saved the life of a fellow officer
and stunned the Japanese into sparing his own life but also brought about a new respect
for American officers and men and a great improvement in camp living conditions. His
heroic conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon Comdr. Antrim and the U.S.
Naval Service.
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