During the Second World War, countless individuals demonstrated extraordinary heroism, whether in the heat of battle or on the home front. Among them was Francis P. Hammerberg, who gave his life for the safety of others during a rescue operation at Pearl Harbor. His courageous actions earned him the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously in recognition of his sacrifice.
Francis P Hammerberg enlisted in the US Navy
Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg was born on May 31, 1920, in Daggett, Michigan. After moving to Flint in his teenage years and dropping out of high school, he went out west, where he worked on a ranch.
In the summer of 1941, Hammerberg, then 21, enlisted in the US Navy. Following basic training, he was assigned to the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42), after which he served aboard the mine sweeper USS Advent (AM-83). While aboard the latter, he showed immense bravery by risking his own life to prevent a potentially fatal explosion. A cable had become tangled around a sea mine and he dove into the water to free it.
Following this action, Hammerberg was sent to the Deep Sea Diving School in Washington, DC, after which he was assigned to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 1, Pacific Fleet Salvage Force.
West Loch Disaster
In February 1944, the West Loch at Pearl Harbor suffered a devastating event known as the West Loch Disaster. The site had been spared during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, and following the US entry into World War II it housed Navy and civilian ships, as well as large stores of ammunition, military supplies and fuel.
On May 21, 1944, several vessels, packed with ammunition and fuel for an upcoming mission in the Pacific Theater, were moored at the West Loch when disaster struck. One of these ships blew up (the reason why is still unknown), causing others in the area to also explode. To prevent the whole fleet from blowing up, the decision was made to sink the affected ships.
The West Loch disaster resulted in the deaths of 163 individuals, with 396 suffering injuries.
Salvaging crews were called in following the West Loch Disaster
In February 1945, salvage divers were called to Pearl Harbor to raise the hulls of sunken ships and clear the area. Among those called to the scene was Francis P. Hammerberg, whose team successfully raised their assigned vessel without incident. Unfortunately, not all efforts went as smoothly.
While working on their designated Landing Ship, Tank (LST), George Fuller and Earl Brown became stuck after heavy steel fell and trapped them. Their vessel lay submerged in 40 feet of water and 20 feet of mud, creating a dangerous and challenging environment for rescue efforts.
Initial attempts to free them muddied the water around the vessel, severely reducing visibility and forcing the operation to halt. A call for volunteers was made, and Hammerberg stepped forward to assist.
After five hours of grueling work, much of it in complete darkness, Hammerberg successfully freed Fuller. Despite his exhaustion, he returned to rescue Brown. Tragically, while navigating through the wreckage, another heavy piece of steel fell, pinning Hammerberg to Brown. Although Brown survived, Hammerberg was fatally injured after spending 18 hours on this dangerous mission.
Francis P Hammerberg was awarded for his heroics
For his efforts at Pearl Harbor in February 1945, Francis P Hammerberg was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor – the last person to receive it for heroism outside of combat. Along with this distinction, his military service also saw him awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the American Defense Service Medal.
In 1955, a decade after his death, the destroyer escort USS Hammerberg (DE-1015) was named for the boatswain’s mate. The vessel served for nearly 20 years, during both Operation Argus (nuclear weapons and missile tests in the South Pacific) and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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Hammerberg has also received numerous honors in Michigan. Not only have a street and a playground been named for him in Flint and Detriot, respectively, but the Foreign Veterans of Wars (FVW) Post 3720 has since adopted his name. At present, his uniform and medals are on display at the Michigan Heroes Museum in Frankenmuth.