Elmer Charles Bigelow

Infobox Military Person
name=Elmer Charles Bigelow
born= Birth date|1920|7|12
died= Death date and age|1945|2|15|1920|7|12
placeofbirth= Hebron, Illinois
placeofdeath= Philippines
placeofburial= Linn-Hebron Cemetery Hebron, Illinois


caption= Water Tender Second Class Elmer Charles Bigelow
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Naval Reserve
serviceyears= 1942 – 1945
rank= Water Tender Second Class
commands=
unit= USS "Fletcher" (DD-445)
battles=
awards= Medal of Honor
laterwork=

Elmer Charles Bigelow (July 12, 1920 – February 15, 1945) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Elmer Charles Bigelow was born in Hebron, Illinois, on July 12, 1920. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve at Chicago, Illinois in September 1942 and received training at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Illinois, and at Lawrence, Kansas, before being assigned as a Fireman Third Class on board the destroyer USS "Fletcher" (DD-445) in June 1943. While serving in that ship, he advanced in rate to Water Tender Second Class. On February 14, 1945, while assisting minesweeping operations prior to landings on Manila Bay's Corregidor Island, "Fletcher" was hit by an enemy shell and set afire. Bigelow heroically fought the blaze, contributing greatly to saving his ship, but was badly injured and died the next day. Water Tender Second Class Bigelow was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity". Bigelow was buried in Linn-Hebron Cemetery in Hebron, Illinois.

Namesake

The destroyer USS "Bigelow" (DD-942), 1957-1990, was named in honor of Water Tender Second Class Elmer Charles Bigelow.

Medal of Honor citation

Elmer Bigelow's official Navy Medal of Honor citation is as follows:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving on board the U.S.S. "Fletcher" during action against enemy Japanese forces off Corregidor Island in the Philippines, February 14, 1945. Standing topside when an enemy shell struck the "Fletcher", BIGELOW, acting instantly as the deadly projectile exploded into fragments which penetrated the No. 1 gun magazine and set fire to several powder cases, picked up a pair of fire extinguishers and rushed below in a resolute attempt to quell the raging flames. Refusing to waste the precious time required to don rescue-breathing apparatus, he plunged through the blinding smoke billowing out of the magazine hatch and dropped into the blazing compartment. Despite the acrid, burning powder smoke which seared his lungs with every agonizing breath, he worked rapidly and with instinctive sureness and succeeded in quickly extinguishing the fires and in cooling the cases and bulkheads, thereby preventing further damage to the stricken ship. Although he succumbed to his injuries on the following day, BIGELOW, by his dauntless valor, unfaltering skill and prompt action in the critical emergency, had averted a magazine explosion which undoubtedly would have left his ship wallowing at the mercy of the furiously pounding Japanese guns on Corregidor, and his heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country."

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

References

*cite web
last = Naval Historical Center
title = US People - Bigelow, Elmer Charles
work = Online Library
date = 2002-03-03
url = http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-b/e-biglow.htm
accessdate = 2006-08-03

*findagrave|8544926 Retrieved on 2007-11-13

Persondata
NAME= Bigelow, Elmer Charles
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= July 12, 1920
PLACE OF BIRTH= Hebron, Illinois
DATE OF DEATH= February 15, 1945
PLACE OF DEATH= Philippines