USN Battle of Midway Purple Heart accolade

[mvmhm]

Another piece of history turned into a local thrift store - the Purple Heart accolade for a sailor who served aboard the destroyer USS Hammann. The Hammann fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea and assisted in taking on survivors when the carrier USS Lexington was torpedoed and sunk on May 8th, 1942. Just under a month later, she was taking part in the famous battle of Midway, where this sailor was wounded on the first day. Two days later, Hammann was assisting the stricken carrier USS Yorktown when both ships were struck by torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-168. Hammann was hit amidships, broke in half and sank in just four minutes. As the ship sank, it's depth charges exploded killing many of the men in the water. This sailor survived, but was so badly injured that he was medically discharged in August 1943. He passed away in 1986. Now, where is his Purple Heart?

 

 

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