Mervyn Sharp Bennion - Salt lake City, UT
Posted by: 
'39 Geezer
N 40° 46.706 W 111° 51.784
12T E 427171 N 4514519
For conspicuous devotion to duty at Pearl Harbor
Waymark Code: WMEEG0
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 05/16/2012
Views: 10
Birth: May 5, 1887
Vernon, Tooele County, Utah, USA
Death: Dec. 7, 1941
Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Mervyn Sharp Bennion was Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. West Virginia when it was hit by the Japanese in their surprise attack on December 7, 1941. His CMOH citation reads: For conspicuous devotion to duty, 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. As Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. West Virginia, after being mortally wounded, Capt. Bennion evidenced apparent concern only in fighting and saving his ship, and strongly protested against being carried from the bridge. Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Navy. Born: 5 May 1887, Vernon, Utah. Appointed from: Utah. His Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously, and a destroyer named the U.S.S. Bennion was christened in 1943 by his wife Louise. In 1951 the Salt Lake City Navy Mother's Club dedicated a plaque in honor of World War II veterans in Salt Lake's Memory Grove. Bennion was also honored in 1968 by the University of Utah's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, which dedicated the midshipmen wardroom in the Naval Science Building to him.
Armed Service: Navy
|
Visit Instructions:
To properly log your find, post a photograph of the medal recipient's grave marker. Do not place anything on the grave when taking the photo. If you have more information about the recipient please include it in your log.