FUQUA, SAMUEL GLENN
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Navy,
U.S.S. Arizona. Place and date: Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December
1941. Entered service at: Laddonia, Mo. Born: 15 October 1899, Laddonia
Mo.
Citation:
For distinguished conduct in action, outstanding heroism, and utter disregard of his own
safety above and beyond the call of duty during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor,
by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. Upon the commencement of the attack, Lt. Comdr.
Fuqua rushed to the quarterdeck of the U.S.S. Arizona to which he was attached where he
was stunned and knocked down by the explosion of a large bomb which hit the guarterdeck,
penetrated several decks, and started a severe fire. Upon regaining consciousness, he
began to direct the fighting of the fire and the rescue of wounded and injured personnel.
Almost immediately there was a tremendous explosion forward, which made the ship appear to
rise out of the water, shudder, and settle down by the bow rapidly. The whole forward part
of the ship was enveloped in flames which were spreading rapidly, and wounded and burned
men were pouring out of the ship to the quarterdeck. Despite these conditions, his
harrowing experience, and severe enemy bombing and strafing, at the time, Lt. Comdr. Fuqua
continued to direct the fighting of fires in order to check them while the wounded and
burned could be taken from the ship and supervised the rescue of these men in such an
amazingly calm and cool manner and with such excellent judgment that it inspired everyone
who saw him and undoubtedly resulted in the saving of many lives. After realizing the ship
could not be saved and that he was the senior surviving officer aboard, he directed it to
be abandoned, but continued to remain on the quarterdeck and directed abandoning ship and
rescue of personnel until satisfied that all personnel that could be had been saved, after
which he left his ship with the boatload. The conduct of Lt. Comdr. Fuqua was not only in
keeping with the highest traditions of the naval service but characterizes him as an
outstanding leader of men.
