ASSOCIATION OF AVIATION ORDNANCEMEN
The Aviation Ordnanceman rating was established at all four petty officer grades of Chief, First, Second and Third Class on March 2, 1926 as a rating within the Aviation Branch. The Aviation Ordnanceman rating was filled initially from qualified personnel serving primarily with the ratings of Gunner's Mate and Torpedoman (assigned to aviation). The Aviation Ordnanceman specialty mark, a winged flaming spherical shell, was incorporated into Uniform Regulations in January 1927.
The President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to
FINN, JOHN WILLIAM
Lieutenant, USN.
for service set forth in the following Citation:
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"For extraordinary heroism, distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, on 7 December 1941, Lieutenant Finn promptly secured and manned a 50-caliber machine gun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy machine-gun strafing fire. Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man this gun and return the enemy's fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard for his own personal safety. It was only by specific orders that he was persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention. Following first-aid treatment, although obviously suffering much pain and moving with great difficulty, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the rearming of returning airplanes. His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
LT John W. Finn was born July 1909
and passed May 2010
COMMITTEES
JOHN W. FINN AVIATION ORDNANCEMEN OF THE YEAR
2019 J. A. BOWMAN MALS-13
Committee Chair: Tim Zimmer
Message, Example package and History
ROBERT L. CROW EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP
Committee Chair: Rick Garza
Example Package and History
ARMS OF THE FLEET
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR ORDNANCEMENÂ AROUND THE FLEET. DON'T FORGET TO SEND IN YOUR ORDIES IN ACTION