GARY, DONALD ARTHUR
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, Junior
Grade, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. Franklin. Place and date: Japanese Home Islands near Kobe,
Japan, 19 March 1945. Entered service at: Ohio. Born: 23 July 1903, Findlay,
Ohio.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty as an engineering officer attached to the U.S.S. Franklin when that vessel
was fiercely attacked by enemy aircraft during the operations against the Japanese Home
Islands near Kobe, Japan, 19 March 1945. Stationed on the third deck when the ship was
rocked by a series of violent explosions set off in her own ready bombs, rockets, and
ammunition by the hostile attack, Lt. (j.g.) Gary unhesitatingly risked his life to assist
several hundred men trapped in a messing compartment filled with smoke, and with no
apparent egress. As the imperiled men below decks became increasingly panic stricken under
the raging fury of incessant explosions, he confidently assured them he would find a means
of effecting their release and, groping through the dark, debris-filled corridors,
ultimately discovered an escapeway. Stanchly determined, he struggled back to the messing
compartment 3 times despite menacing flames, flooding water, and the ominous threat of
sudden additional explosions, on each occasion calmly leading his men through the
blanketing pall of smoke until the last one had been saved. Selfless in his concern for
his ship and his fellows, he constantly rallied others about him, repeatedly organized and
led fire-fighting parties into the blazing inferno on the flight deck and, when firerooms
1 and 2 were found to be inoperable, entered the No. 3 fireroom and directed the raising
of steam in 1 boiler in the face of extreme difficulty and hazard. An inspiring and
courageous leader, Lt. (j.g.) Gary rendered self-sacrificing service under the most
perilous conditions and, by his heroic initiative, fortitude, and valor, was responsible
for the saving of several hundred lives. His conduct throughout reflects the highest
credit upon himself and upon the U.S. Naval Service.
