- John Arnold Austin
Infobox Military Person
name= John Arnold Austin
born= birth date|1905|8|30
died= death date and age|1941|12|7
placeofbirth=Warrior, Alabama
placeofdeath= Killed during theAttack on Pearl Harbor
caption= John Arnold Austin
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Navy
serviceyears= 1920-1941
rank= Chief Carpenter
commands=
unit= USS "Oklahoma"
battles=World War II
awards=Navy Cross
laterwork=John Arnold Austin (
30 August 1905 -7 December 1941 ) was a United States Navy sailor inWorld War II , who received theNavy Cross (awarded posthumously) for his actions during the Japaneseattack on Pearl Harbor .Austin was born in
Warrior, Alabama , and enlisted in theUnited States Navy on20 November 1920 . Between that time and26 July 1935 , he served four successive enlistments. On that date, Austin accepted an acting appointment as carpenter (warrant officer grade) and reported on board the submarine tender "Canopus" then serving as a unit of theAsiatic Fleet . On8 August , he detached from the tender and reported for duty in "Augusta". On4 December 1935, Austin received a permanent warrant as a carpenter. He left the heavycruiser on13 July 1937 and reported on board "Tennessee" on10 September 1937. He served in thatbattleship until detached on14 June 1939 to proceed to further assignment to "Rigel" reporting on18 July 1939. After 14 months in thatdestroyer tender , Carpenter Austin departed on21 September 1940 bound for duty in "Oklahoma" and reported on board the battleship on5 October 1940. In October 1941, Austin received a commission as chief carpenter (commissioned warrant officer).On the morning of
7 December 1941 , Chief Carpenter Austin was in "Oklahoma". When the battleship capsized as a result of Japanese bombs and torpedoes, he was trapped below water with many of his shipmates. Austin searched for a means of escape and found aporthole which, though beneath the surface, offered just such an avenue. As a result of his efforts, 15 sailors escaped a watery grave. Chief Carpenter Austin, however, did not. As his citation reads, "He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country." Chief Carpenter Austin was awarded theNavy Cross posthumously.Namesake
The destroyer escort USS "Austin" (DE-15) was named in his honor.
ee also
References
:DANFS
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