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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Ensign Francis C. Flaherty, US Navy
American Legion Post 42 in Charlotte, Michigan is named after Ensign Francis C. Flaherty.
Ensign Francis C. Flaherty, USNR was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for conspicuous devotion to duty and extraordinary courage on board USS Oklahoma (BB-37) during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor. Halftone reproduction, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1948, The Navy", page 184. He was a parishioner of St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte, Michigan. The escort ship USS Flaherty (DE-135), 1943-1966, was named in honor of Ensign Flaherty.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve. Born: 15 March 1919, Charlotte, Mich. Accredited to: Michigan. Citation: For conspicuous devotion to duty and 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. When it was seen that the U.S.S. Oklahoma was going to capsize and the order was given to abandon ship, Ens. Flaherty remained in a turret, holding a flashlight so the remainder of the turret crew could see to escape, thereby sacrificing his own life.
U.S.S. Oklahoma Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - December 7, 1941 - A Day of Infamy
Rescue teams at work on the capsized hull of USS Oklahoma (BB-37), seeking crew members trapped inside, 7 December 1941. The starboard bilge keel is visible at the top of the upturned hull. Officers' Motor Boats from Oklahoma and USS Argonne (AG-31) are in the foreground.
USS Maryland (BB-46) is in the background.
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