MoH recipient James R. Ward’s bravery on the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) saved lives but cost his own

The attack on Pearl Harbor served as the important event that drew the United States into World War II. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japan carried out a devastating assault that claimed the lives of over 2,400 Americans, most of whom were members of the US Navy. Among those who perished was James R. Ward, who was posthumously honored with the Medal of Honor for his bravery aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) during the attack.

James R Ward’s early life and enlistment in the US Navy

After completing recruit and basic training, Ward was assigned to the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), a Nevada-class battleship, where he served as a seaman first class and a member of a gun crew.

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

At just before 8:00 AM on December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Targeting the ships moored at the naval base, as well as aircraft grounded at Wheeler Airfield, 353 Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) bombers dropped their explosives, destroying and damaging several hundred pieces of military equipment and killing 2,403 people. Another 1,178 were injured.

While the Japanese had initially planned for their attack to decimate the US Pacific Fleet, the fact of the matter was that the ships that made up the bulk of the US Navy’s manpower weren’t at Pearl Harbor that day. The service’s aircraft carriers – in particular, the USS Yorktown (CV-5), Hornet (CV-8) and Enterprise (CV-6) – were elsewhere, meaning they were able to deliver a hard blow against the enemy during the Battle of Midway.

James R Ward’s bravery aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37)

When the Japanese carried out their devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, James R. Ward was still stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma. The ship was one of the main targets of the assault and took three torpedo hits shortly after the attack began. As the vessel flooded, it started to list, signaling that it was on the verge of capsizing. Consequently, the order was given for all personnel to abandon the battleship.

Ward helped others escape 

Despite the likely cost of his own life, Ward stayed behind, positioning himself in his assigned 14-inch gun turret with a flashlight to assist his fellow sailors in their escape. The solitary beam of light guided the others through the darkness, ultimately saving their lives. In the aftermath, many would recall Ward’s selflessness.

When the Oklahoma sank beneath the waves, Ward was among the hundreds who remained aboard the battleship.

Identification and the Medal of Honor

For his bravery on December 7, 1941, James R Ward was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, one of many to receive the distinction for their actions that infamous day. He was also honored in 1943 when the destroyer escort USS J. Richard Ward (DE-243) was named for him. The vessel remained active until 1946, performing duties in the North Atlantic and off the coast of South America.

In 2015, the Department of Defense announced the launch of the USS Oklahoma project, aimed at identifying the remains from the vessel that were still without a name. Called “unknowns,” they were buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. On August 19, 2021, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that it had officially identified Ward’s remains, thanks to DNA analysis. Samples were provided by his nephew and distant relatives.

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That December, the seaman first class was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery. In his honor, a cenotaph was also erected in Ferncliff Cemetery in his hometown.