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Rank and
organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Place and
date: Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii,
7 December 1941. Entered service at: California. Born:
23 July 1909, Los Angeles, Calif.
Citation:
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, Lt. Finn promptly secured and manned a .50-caliber
machinegun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely
exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy
machinegun strafing fire. Although painfully wounded many times,
he continued to man this gun and to 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 planes. His
extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action were in keeping
with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
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The
President of the United States