James R. Ward
{{Short description|US Navy Medal of Honor recipient (1921–1941)}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = James Richard Ward
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|9|10}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1941|12|7|1921|9|10}}
| birth_place = Springfield, Ohio
| death_place = Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii
| placeofburial = Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
He was listed in the Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii. A rosette has been placed next to his name, signifying he has been located. A cenotaph has been placed in Ferncliff Cemetery, in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio
| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
| image = James R. Ward;h92309.jpg
| medal = Moh right.gif
| medal_alt = A light blue neck ribbon with a gold star shaped medallion hanging from it. The ribbon is similar in shape to a bowtie with 13 white stars in the center of the ribbon.
| caption = Seaman First Class James R. Ward, Medal of Honor recipient
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|United States of America}}
| branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}
| serviceyears = 1940 – 1941
| rank = 20px Seaman First Class
| commands =
| unit = {{USS|Oklahoma|BB-37|6}}
| battles = World War II
- Attack on Pearl Harbor {{KIA}}
| awards = 35 px Medal of Honor
| laterwork =
}}
James Richard Ward (September 10, 1921 – December 7, 1941) was a US Navy sailor who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Biography
Ward enlisted in the United States Navy at Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 25, 1940. After basic training, he reported on board the battleship {{USS|Oklahoma|BB-37}}.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Oklahoma took three torpedoes soon after the attack began. She listed dangerously, and it was soon apparent that she would capsize. The order was given to abandon ship, but Seaman First Class Ward remained in a turret holding a flashlight, thus sacrificing his own life to permit other members of the crew to escape. For his heroism at that time, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor.
On August 19, 2021, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of Seaman First Class James Richard Ward. His remains were interred in Arlington National Cemetery on 21 December 2023.{{cite web |last1=Nieberg |first1=Patty |title=Sailor awarded Medal of Honor for Pearl Harbor heroism identified by DNA |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/history/sailor-medal-of-honor-pearl-harbor/ |website=Task & Purpose |access-date=9 December 2023 |date=7 December 2023}}
Awards and honors
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=A light blue ribbon with five white five pointed stars}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| colspan="3"|Medal of Honor
|colspan="3"|Purple Heart |
| colspan="2"|American Defense Service Medal w/ Fleet clasp |colspan="2"|Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal |colspan="2"|World War II Victory Medal |
=Medal of Honor 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.
=Namesake=
In 1943, the destroyer escort {{USS|J. Richard Ward|DE-243}}, was named in honor of Seaman First Class Ward.
See also
{{Portal|Biography}}
References
{{Reflist}}
:{{DANFS}}
- {{Cite web |accessdate=September 29, 2010 |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j1/j_richard_ward.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040221130334/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j1/j_richard_ward.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 21, 2004 |title=James Richard Ward, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Historical Center, Department of the Navy}}
External links
- {{Cite web|accessdate=September 29, 2010 |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-w/jr-ward.htm |title=History.navy.mil/photos: James Richard Ward |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726123951/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-w/jr-ward.htm |archivedate=July 26, 2010 }}
- {{Find a Grave|8159203|work=Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients|accessdate=2008-02-24}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, James}}
Category:United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients
Category:People from Springfield, Ohio
Category:United States Navy sailors
Category:United States Navy personnel killed in World War II
Category:World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor
Category:Deaths by Japanese airstrikes during the attack on Pearl Harbor