Thomas E. Hailey’s Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY CROSS to

SERGEANT THOMAS E. HAILEY
U.S. MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for exceptional courage, presence of mind, and devotion to duty and disregard for his personal safety while serving on board the U.S.S. OKLAHOMA (BB-37) during the Japanese attack on the United States Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, on 7 December 1941. Upon the U.S.S. OKLAHOMA capsizing within ten minutes after the beginning of the attack, Sergeant Hailey swam to the U.S.S. Maryland, alongside of which the U.S.S. OKLAHOMA was moored, and from there assisted materially for a short time in the rescue of the U.S.S. OKLAHOMA crew. He then, on his own initiative, assisted in manning an anti-aircraft gun of the U.S.S. Maryland in a most efficient manner, despite the severe enemy bombing and strafing and the fact that he had previously had not experience in the use of that particular type gun. Later, upon arrival at the Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Sergeant Hailey clothed only in his underwear and armed with a rifle, volunteered and went up in an airplane that was leaving on a search mission where he remained for about five hours, returning to the Air Station at about 4:30 that afternoon. His outstanding courage, aggressive fighting spirit and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Hailey and the United States Naval Service.

Born: 13 November 1916 in Saint Joseph, Mo…. Home of record: Saint Joseph, Mo…. Departed 3 January 1975… Interred: Clovis Cemetery in Clovis, Calif.