Milton Ernest Ricketts MOH

b. 05/08/1913 Baltimore, Maryland. d. 08/05/1942 Coral Sea, off Philippines.

DATE OF MOH ACTION: 08/05/1942 Coral Sea.

Milton E Ricketts MOH

Ricketts graduated from the Baltimore City College high school and then from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1935 and subsequently served on the USS Ranger (CV-4) and USS Yorktown (CV-5). On May 8, 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, Lieutenant Ricketts was in charge of a damage control party on board the Yorktown. When a Japanese bomb exploded among his group, he successfully undertook fire-fighting measures despite having received mortal wounds. For this act, Ricketts was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Ricketts was buried at sea; his name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.

 

MOH CITATION:

For extraordinary and distinguished gallantry above and beyond the call of duty as officer-in-charge of the Engineering Repair Party of the U.S.S. Yorktown in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942. During the severe bombing of the Yorktown by enemy Japanese forces, an aerial bomb passed through and exploded directly beneath the compartment in which Lt. Ricketts’ battle station was located, killing, wounding, or stunning all of his men and mortally wounding him. Despite his ebbing strength, Lt. Ricketts promptly opened the valve of a near-by fireplug, partially led out the firehose, and directed a heavy stream of water into the fire before dropping dead beside the hose. His courageous action, which undoubtedly prevented the rapid spread of fire to serious proportions, and his unflinching devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: AT SEA. NAMED ON THE TABLETS OF THE MISSING, MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, MANILA, PHILIPPINES.

IN MEMORY OF MARKER AT GREEN MOUNT CEMETERY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. AREA EE, LOT 14-16.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.