Lieutenant Commander Bruce A. Van Voorhis - St. Louis, MO
Posted by: BruceS
N 38° 30.041 W 090° 16.726
15S E 737303 N 4264878
World War II US Navy Medal of Honor recipient located in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
Waymark Code: WM7YM
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 02/23/2006
Views: 47
Lieutenant Commander Bruce A. Van Voorhis
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Commander,
U.S. Navy. Squadron Commander of Bombing Squadron 102
Place and date: Solomon
Islands, 6 July 1943
Entered service at: Nevada.
Birth: 29 January 1908, Aberdeen, Wash.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty as Squadron Commander of Bombing Squadron 102
and as Plane Commander of a PB4Y-I Patrol Bomber operating against the enemy on
Japanese-held Greenwich Island during the battle of the Solomon Islands, 6 July
1943. Fully aware of the limited chance of surviving an urgent mission,
voluntarily undertaken to prevent a surprise Japanese attack against our forces,
Lt. Comdr. Van Voorhis took off in total darkness on a perilous 700-mile flight
without escort or support. Successful in reaching his objective despite
treacherous and varying winds, low visibility and difficult terrain, he fought a
lone but relentless battle under fierce antiaircraft fire and overwhelming
aerial opposition. Forced lower and lower by pursuing planes, he coolly
persisted in his mission of destruction. Abandoning all chance of a safe return
he executed 6 bold ground-level attacks to demolish the enemy's vital radio
station, installations, antiaircraft guns and crews with bombs and machinegun
fire, and to destroy 1 fighter plane in the air and 3 on the water. Caught in
his own bomb blast, Lt. Comdr. Van Voorhis crashed into the lagoon off the
beach, sacrificing himself in a single-handed fight against almost insuperable
odds, to make a distinctive contribution to our continued offensive in driving
the Japanese from the Solomons and, by his superb daring, courage and
resoluteness of purpose, enhanced the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval
Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.