USN Captain Mervyn S. Bennion, U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:
ca. 1940
Description:
Captain Bennion was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. As he laid mortally wounded on the West Virginia's command bridge, Bennion refused to be removed from his burning ship. He continued to give orders, directing his crew's actions. Bennion's last order to his men before he died was to leave him and "abandon ship." Captain Bennion was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
U.S.S. West Virginia Sailors Hoist Their Glasses at Monkey Bar, Pearl Harbor, HI
Date:
1941/12/06
Description:
L to R: Jack Miller, Frank Kosa, Clifford Olds.Olds and 2 other crew members , Ronald Endicott and Louis Costin were trapped in a sealed compartment in the West Virginia's bow after it sank on December 7th. Any rescue attempt meant certain death. The 3 stayed alive until December 24th according to a marked calendar found with their bodies which were recovered after the ship was raised from the harbor bottom in May, 1942.
U.S.S. West Virginia Landing Vehicle Headed for Okinawa Beaches
Date:
1945/04
Description:
Troops loaded into landing vehicles head for the beaches of Okinawa as part of the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific theater during World War II. The U.S.S. West Virginia is pictured in the background.
Hand-colored portrait of Melvin H. Kimble, a native of Moundsville, W. Va. Kimble was a marksman and member of the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion during World World II.
Portrait of Melvin H. Kimble, a native of Moundsville, W. Va. Kimble was a marksman and member of the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion during World World II.Reverse reads "Born October 26, 1920. Died December 3, 1944, killed in the "Battle of the Bulge." Buried at Sand Hill, PA Green County."
Melvin H. Kimble celebrating Christmas in Germany.Kimble was a native of Moundsville, W. Va. He was a marksman and member of the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion during World World II.