Franklin Van Valkenburgh

Franklin Van Valkenburgh was a United States Navy officer who served as the final commanding officer of the battleship USS Arizona (BB-39) during the Attack on Pearl Harbor. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his conspicuous leadership and extraordinary courage while directing the defense of his ship against the Imperial Japanese Navy air assault. His death aboard the sinking Arizona made him a prominent figure among the casualties of the Pacific War.

Early life and education

Franklin Van Valkenburgh was born on April 5, 1888, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating with the Class of 1910. His early education and training at the academy prepared him for a career as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy, during a period of significant naval expansion and technological transition.

Naval career

Following his graduation and commissioning as an ensign, Van Valkenburgh served on various vessels, including the battleship USS Delaware (BB-28). His career progressed through the ranks during World War I and the interwar period, with assignments that included duty on the USS New York (BB-34) and staff positions. He completed advanced studies at the Naval War College in Newport, enhancing his expertise in naval strategy and command. Prior to his fateful assignment, he served as the executive officer of the USS Maryland (BB-46) and held a shore post at the Bureau of Navigation in Washington, D.C..

USS Arizona and death

In early 1941, Van Valkenburgh assumed command of the USS Arizona (BB-39), a Pennsylvania-class battleship stationed with the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. On the morning of December 7, 1941, during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Arizona was a primary target for Japanese aircraft. As the ship sustained catastrophic hits from aircraft-launched bombs, Van Valkenburgh was on the bridge directing the ship's defense and efforts to maintain fighting capability. He was killed when a massive explosion, likely from a bomb detonating the forward magazines, destroyed the forward part of the vessel. The Arizona sank quickly, with the loss of 1,177 officers and crewmen.

Awards and honors

For his actions during the attack, Franklin Van Valkenburgh was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration for valor. The citation commended his "conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life." He was also awarded the Purple Heart. His remains, unrecovered from the ship, are entombed within the sunken hull, which now serves as the USS Arizona Memorial. His name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Punchbowl Cemetery in Honolulu.

Legacy

Franklin Van Valkenburgh is memorialized as a hero of Pearl Harbor and a symbol of steadfast leadership. The destroyer USS Van Valkenburgh (DD-656) was named in his honor and served with distinction in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His Medal of Honor is held by the Naval History and Heritage Command. The story of his command and sacrifice remains a central part of the historical narrative presented at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. His actions, alongside those of his crew, are commemorated annually during ceremonies at the USS Arizona Memorial.

Category:American military personnel killed in World War II Category:Recipients of the Medal of Honor Category:United States Naval Academy alumni