MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Today, the flight line adjacent to the bay aboard Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay mostly sees helicopter traffic. Sea Stallions and Super Cobras lounge in the sun, distorted by heat radiating from the asphalt. More than 75 years ago, however, a Navy Chief Aviation Ordnanceman stood on that tarmac, exposing himself to the hail of a Japanese aerial assault for more than two hours. Sustaining 21 distinct wounds, he remained on duty for a total 18 hours before seeking medical care. John Finn’s heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor earned himself the first Medal of Honor of WWII.
To memorialize his valor and service, the Marine Corps Base Hawaii command hosted a base tour for Finn’s family July 14, 2017.
“The tour was organized by our base’s operations and engagement section,” said Col. Raul Lianez, the base commanding officer of MCBH. “They coordinated with the family members who were coming out for the commissioning of the USS John Finn, and really desired to see where their uncle or great-uncle carried out his great acts of heroism.”
The tour took family members from the Pacific War Memorial to Marine Corps Air Station, where they learned the scope of the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. Next, they traveled to the base’s flight line, where they were able to sit behind the same model of machine gun Finn used defending his hangar, and see the holes in the asphalt left by its mounting system.
“Seeing where he stood, actually getting his point of view, it’s been very surreal,” said Elijah Finn, John Finn’s grand-nephew, a native of Eugene, Oregon, and a former Marine field radio operator.
“Seeing it with my own eyes and from his perspective kind of puts the final nail in understanding it.”
From the flight line, the final stop was the John Finn Memorial Building, Marine Aircraft Group 24’s headquarters. It also houses a number of exhibits on Finn’s life and service.
Lianez stressed the importance of history, and its role in continuing the proud traditions of the armed forces.
“As today’s American fighting men and women, we entered because we understood that we are a warrior culture, and our legacy links to John Finn,” Lianez said. “And in John Finn and heroes like him, we have an example of what we know we can face.”
The example can be seen in the crew of his namesake, said Finn.
“Going to the ship last night, and seeing the crew that’s going to be serving on her, it’s an honor,” Finn said of the crew to serve on the USS John Finn. “It’s incredible to see them as proud as they are for someone that they’ve never met.”
Family members are slated to visit Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam July 15, 2017 to witness the USS John Finn be commissioned. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m.
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