<Li> Attack on Pearl Harbor </Li> <Tr> <Th> Awards </Th> <Td> Medal of Honor Purple Heart </Td> </Tr> <P> John William Finn (23 July 1909--27 May 2010) was a sailor in the United States Navy who, as a chief petty officer, received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II . As a chief aviation ordnanceman stationed at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, he earned the medal by manning a machine gun from an exposed position throughout the attack, despite being repeatedly wounded . He continued to serve in the Navy and in 1942 was commissioned an ensign . In 1947 he was reverted to chief petty officer, eventually rising to lieutenant before his 1956 retirement . In his later years he made many appearances at events celebrating veterans . At the time of his death, Finn was the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient, the last living recipient from the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the last United States Navy recipient of World War II . </P> <P> Born on 24 July 1909, in Compton, California, Finn dropped out of school after the seventh grade . He enlisted in the Navy in July 1926, shortly before his seventeenth birthday, and completed recruit training in San Diego . After a brief stint with a ceremonial guard company, he attended General Aviation Utilities Training at Naval Station Great Lakes, graduating in December . By April 1927 he was back in the San Diego area, having been assigned to Naval Air Station North Island . He initially worked in aircraft repair before becoming an aviation ordnanceman and working on anti-aircraft guns . He then served on a series of ships: the USS Lexington (CV - 2), the USS Houston (CA - 30), the USS Jason (AC - 12), the USS Saratoga (CV - 3), and the USS Cincinnati (CL - 6). </P>

Who was the first navy chief to be awarded the medal of honor