View attachment 20295 RADM Samuel Glenn Fuqua I was recently made aware of something that really blew me away.I have lived in Audrain County Missouri for nearly all of my 51 years. I have never before heard that there was a WWII Medal of Honor winner from our county. I was further astonished to find out when and where this gentleman won his award. Samuel Glenn Fuqua was born on October 15, 1899 and raised in the little farm town of Laddonia, Missouri (pop. 513). Mr. Fuqua served briefly in the Army during the final days of World War I, inducted on October 1,1918. After his Army service he entered the US Naval Academy in July 1919. After graduation and commissioning in June 1923 he served aboard a number of ships including a prior tour on the USS Arizona. Lt. Commander Fuqua was the damage control officer on the Arizona that fateful day on December 7, 1941. He was on the starboard quarter deck a short distance from where the fatal bomb penetrated the decks and destroyed the ship. His Medal of Honor citation reads as follows: For distinguished conduct in action, outstanding heroism, and utter disregard of his own safety above and beyond the call of duty during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. Upon the commencement of the attack, Lt. Comdr. Fuqua rushed to the quarterdeck of the U.S.S. Arizona to which he was attached where he was stunned and knocked down by the explosion of a large bomb which hit the guarterdeck, penetrated several decks, and started a severe fire. Upon regaining consciousness, he began to direct the fighting of the fire and the rescue of wounded and injured personnel. Almost immediately there was a tremendous explosion forward, which made the ship appear to rise out of the water, shudder, and settle down by the bow rapidly. The whole forward part of the ship was enveloped in flames which were spreading rapidly, and wounded and burned men were pouring out of the ship to the quarterdeck. Despite these conditions, his harrowing experience, and severe enemy bombing and strafing, at the time, Lt. Comdr. Fuqua continued to direct the fighting of fires in order to check them while the wounded and burned could be taken from the ship and supervised the rescue of these men in such an amazingly calm and cool manner and with such excellent judgment that it inspired everyone who saw him and undoubtedly resulted in the saving of many lives. After realizing the ship could not be saved and that he was the senior surviving officer aboard, he directed it to be abandoned, but continued to remain on the quarterdeck and directed abandoning ship and rescue of personnel until satisfied that all personnel that could be had been saved, after which he left his ship with the boatload. The conduct of Lt. Comdr. Fuqua was not only in keeping with the highest traditions of the naval service but characterizes him as an outstanding leader of men. Lt. Commander Fuqua was the senior ranking officer to survive the Arizona. He continued to serve his country through the Korean War and retired as a Rear Admiral. He passed away on this day, January 27th, in 1987 and was laid to rest in Section 59, Lot 485 at Arlington National Cemetery. View attachment 20296 Mr. Fuqua, thank you for your service!
Wanted to share this newspaper article I just found about Rear Admiral Fuqua receiving his Medal of Honor. It appeared in the Friday 20 March 1942 issue of Jefferson City's Daily Capital News on page #9. View attachment 20340
