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John Finn was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 23, 1909. However, he spent his early years in Compton, California.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 29, 1926, he was 17 years old. In 1940, Finn was assigned to Hawaii and served the until 1943. He was commissioned an ensign on October 6, 1942. He was promoted to Lieutenant May of 1943. In 1943 he transferred to the mainland and in 1946 he transferred to the fleet service. He retired from active duty in the Navy in 1947 while at the U.S. Navy Training Center.
For extraordinary heroism distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack of Japanese airplanes on the Naval Station, Kaneohe Bay, on December 7, 1941, Lt. 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 several times, he continued to man his 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 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 in 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.
Medals & Awards: (shown above)
- Congressional Medal of Honor
- Purple Heart
- Good Conduct Medal w/2 bars
- Yangtze Service Medal
- American Defense Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Pacific Campaign Medal
- WWII Victory Medal
Lieutenant Finn was the first recipient of the Medal of Honor awarded for WWII.
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