On March 19, 1945 the Empire of Japan was reeling under the awesome, relentless firepower of the US military. But it could still throw a mean punch…and on that day numerous Japanese airplanes dropped bombs on a US aircraft carrier near Kobe. The USS Franklin was severely stricken and bombs were exploding throughout the ship.
Navy chaplain Timothy O’Callahan did not waste a second springing into action. He rescued countless sailors, dragging them to safety, praying with them, and urging others to continue the fight.
He personally led officers and crew through twisted burning sections of the ship to fight the fires, manning hoses himself. When choking smoke and intense heat pushed back other sailors, Chaplain O’Callahan stayed at his post, hosing down hot, armed bombs rolling around the deck.
As shrapnel continued to fly around and hit rescue crews, Chaplain O’Callahan personally directed the jettisoning of dangerous live ammunition. Then he directed the flooding of the ammunition magazine so that it would not explode.
He prayed with and inspired his men, but he also risked his life again and again and again to save the lives of the men he so faithfully served.
Fortunately, the ship (along with O’Callahan and the rest of the survivors) was able to limp back to port in safety.
Father O’Callahan was awarded the Navy Cross (the naval services’ medal for bravery second only to the Medal of Honor), but he publicly refused it!!! He was a humble man; he must have believed that many others were far braver that day.
President Truman found out about Chaplain O’Callahan and strongly urged Congress to award him the Medal of Honor.
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above the call of duty” Timothy Joseph O’Callahan was awarded the Medal of Honor on January 23, 1946 at the White House.
Father O’Callahan later became the head of the mathematics department at the College of the Holy Cross in Wooster Massachusetts. He died on March 16, 1964, and is buried on campus.