The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*POWERS, JOHN JAMES
Rank and Organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Born: 13 July 1912, New York
City, N.Y. Accredited To: New York. Other Navy Award: Air Medal with 1 gold
star.
Citation: For distinguished and
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of
duty, while pilot of an airplane of Bombing Squadron 5, Lt. Powers participated, with his
squadron, in 5 engagements with Japanese forces in the Coral Sea area and adjacent waters
during the period 4 to 8 May 1942. Three attacks were made on enemy objectives at or near
Tulagi on 4 May. In these attacks he scored a direct hit which instantly demolished a
large enemy gunboat or destroyer and is credited with 2 close misses, 1 of which severely
damaged a large aircraft tender, the other damaging a 20,000-ton transport. He fearlessly
strafed a gunboat, firing all his ammunition into it amid intense antiaircraft fire. This
gunboat was then observed to be leaving a heavy oil slick in its wake and later was seen
beached on a nearby island. On 7 May, an attack was launched against an enemy airplane
carrier and other units of the enemy's invasion force. He fearlessly led his attack
section of 3 Douglas Dauntless dive bombers, to attack the carrier. On this occasion he
dived in the face of heavy antiaircraft fire, to an altitude well below the safety
altitude, at the risk of his life and almost certain damage to his own plane, in order
that he might positively obtain a hit in a vital part of the ship, which would insure her
complete destruction. This bomb hit was noted by many pilots and observers to cause a
tremendous explosion engulfing the ship in a mass of flame, smoke, and debris. The ship
sank soon after. That evening, in his capacity as Squadron Gunnery Officer, Lt. Powers
gave a lecture to the squadron on point-of-aim and diving technique. During this discourse
he advocated low release point in order to insure greater accuracy; yet he stressed the
danger not only from enemy fire and the resultant low pull-out, but from own bomb blast
and bomb fragments. Thus his low-dive bombing attacks were deliberate and premeditated,
since he well knew and realized the dangers of such tactics, but went far beyond the call
of duty in order to further the cause which he knew to be right. The next morning, 8 May,
as the pilots of the attack group left the ready room to man planes, his indomitable
spirit and leadership were well expressed in his own words, "Remember the folks back
home are counting on us. I am going to get a hit if I have to lay it on their flight
deck.'' He led his section of dive bombers down to the target from an altitude of 18,000
feet, through a wall of bursting antiaircraft shells and into the face of enemy fighter
planes. Again, completely disregarding the safety altitude and without fear or concern for
his safety, Lt. Powers courageously pressed home his attack, almost to the very deck of an
enemy carrier and did not release his bomb until he was sure of a direct hit. He was last
seen attempting recovery from his dive at the extremely low altitude of 200 feet, and amid
a terrific barrage of shell and bomb fragments, smoke, flame and debris from the stricken
vessel. |
