Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg | |
|---|---|
 Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg | |
| Born | (1920-05-31)May 31, 1920 |
| Died | February 17, 1945(1945-02-17) (aged 24) |
| Place of burial | Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1941-1945 |
| Rank | Boatswain's MateSecond Class |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg (May 31, 1920 – February 17, 1945) was aUnited States Navydiver who received theMedal of Honorposthumously for rescuing two fellow divers.
Hammerberg was born atDaggett, Michigan, on May 31, 1920; his family subsequently moved toFlint when he was young.
He enlisted in theUnited States Navy June 16, 1941 and subsequently served on battleshipUSS Idaho (BB-42) andmine sweeperUSS Advent (AM-83). Later that year, he underwent instruction at theDeep Sea Diving School,Washington, D.C., and was assigned duty with theMobile Diving Salvage Unit under Service Force,Pacific Fleet.
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During salvage in the aftermath of theWest Loch Disaster, he lost his life in a rescue operation atPearl Harbor on February 17, 1945. Disregarding all personal danger, he rescued one diver who had been trapped in a cave-in of steel wreckage while tunneling under a sunkenLST. After this rescue, Hammerberg went even farther under the buried hulk and, while rescuing a second diver, was pinned down by another cave-in and perished.[1]Boatswain's Mate Hammerbergposthumously received theMedal of Honor; he is the last person to be awarded the medal for non-combat heroism.[citation needed]
He was buried atHoly Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, Michigan.
In 1955, thedestroyer escortUSS Hammerberg (DE-1015) was named for him. A street in Flint and a playground inDetroit are also named Hammerberg in his honor.In 2021, VFW Post 3720 inSwartz Creek was renamed the Francis P. Hammerberg Memorial Post
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| Medal of Honor | Good Conduct Medal | ||||
| American Defense Service Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal | |||
Hammerberg's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a diver engaged in rescue operations at West Loch, Pearl Harbor, 17 February 1945. Aware of the danger when 2 fellow divers were hopelessly trapped in a cave-in of steel wreckage while tunneling with jet nozzles under an LST sunk in 40 feet (12 m) of water and 20 feet (6.1 m) of mud. Hammerberg unhesitatingly went overboard in a valiant attempt to effect their rescue despite the certain hazard of additional cave-ins and the risk of fouling his lifeline on jagged pieces of steel imbedded in the shifting mud. Washing a passage through the original excavation, he reached the first of the trapped men, freed him from the wreckage and, working desperately in pitch-black darkness, finally effected his release from fouled lines, thereby enabling him to reach the surface. Wearied but undaunted after several hours of arduous labor, Hammerberg resolved to continue his struggle to wash through the oozing submarine, subterranean mud in a determined effort to save the second diver. Venturing still farther under the buried hulk, he held tenaciously to his purpose, reaching a place immediately above the other man just as another cave-in occurred and a heavy piece of steel pinned him crosswise over his shipmate in a position which protected the man beneath from further injury while placing the full brunt of terrific pressure on himself. Although he succumbed in agony 18 hours after he had gone to the aid of his fellow divers, Hammerberg, by his cool judgment, unfaltering professional skill and consistent disregard of all personal danger in the face of tremendous odds, had contributed effectively to the saving of his 2 comrades. His heroic spirit of self-sacrifice throughout enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.[2]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Army Center of Military History. This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
