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| Ensign Harald Christopher served on the USS Nevada during the attack on Pearl Harbor. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73693572/harold-jensen-christopher https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nevada_(BB-36)#Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor |
Harald Jensen Christopher never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on November 6, 1919 in Illinois. His parents Carl and Bertha were born in Illinois and New Jersey, respectively. Three of his grandparents were from Denmark and the other was from Sweden. His father worked as an implements merchant and later as a garage proprietor. Harald had a younger sister. His father died in a commercial airliner crash in Salt Lake City in 1938. Harald attended Northwestern University where he participated in Navy ROTC and graduated in 1941.
He was called up in May 1941 and became an ensign assigned to the battleship USS Nevada in August 1941. Newspaper articles indicated that he was trained as a pilot. If this is accurate, he could have been one of the floatplane pilots assigned to each battleship.
On December 7, 1941, during the Japanese surprise attack, unlike the other seven battleships, Nevada was not moored and her boilers were operational, giving her the ability to maneuver. It was hit by a torpedo at 8:10, but its crew was able to seal off the affected area. With no way or need to man his floatplane, Ensign Christopher took charge of a five-inch broadside battery shooting at the attacking planes. Around 9:50 Nevada was hit by five bombs dropped by Japanese dive bombers. One of these killed Ensign Christopher.
Ensign Christopher was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at Pearl Harbor. His citation reads as follows:
Ensign Christopher, realizing his services at his regular battle station on the U.S.S. NEVADA were not needed at the time, he, on his own initiative, assumed duties on the five-inch broadside battery and effectively controlled his part of that battery until killed by a bomb explosion.
The conduct of Ensign Christopher throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Thank you Ensign Christopher for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Harald.
Last year on this date I profiled Silver Star hero Holstein Harvey, 27th Infantry Division. You can read about Holstein here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
The destroyer escort USS Christopher was named in his honor and brought into the service in 1943.
His grave is at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Dwight, Illinois.
Last year on this date I profiled Silver Star hero Holstein Harvey, 27th Infantry Division. You can read about Holstein here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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