The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*WARD, JAMES RICHARD
Rank and Organization: Seaman First Class, U.S.
Navy. Born: 10 September 1921, Springfield, Ohio. Entered Service at:
Springfield, Ohio.
Citation:
For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and complete disregard of his
life, above and beyond the call of duty, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor by
Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. When it was seen that the U.S.S. Oklahoma was going to
capsize and the order was given to abandon ship, Ward remained in a turret holding a
flashlight so the remainder of the turret crew could see to escape, thereby sacrificing
his own life.
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