On this Memorial Day Americans remember their servicemen. My records show that in 1792 an O'Flaherty was granted a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War. In December, 1941, a young seaman named Francis Flaherty earned the following entry in the annals of American History
"For conspicuous devotion to duty and extraordinary courage and complete disregard of his own 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, Ensign Flaherty remained in a turret, holding a flashlight so the remainder of the turret crew could see to escape, thereby sacrificing his own life."Medal of Honor citation of Ensign Francis C. Flaherty, USNR
The escort ship USS
Flaherty (DE-135), 1943-1966, was named in honor of Ensign Flaherty. (Navy website).
This post is dedicated to the mother of Francis C. Flaherty.
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