On May 8, 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, Lieutenant Milton Ernest Ricketts was serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown as officer-in-charge of the Engineering Repair Party.
When Japanese bombs struck the ship, one tore through the deck and exploded beneath his compartment—killing or wounding nearly all of his men and mortally wounding him.
Still conscious, and knowing fire threatened the ship, Lt. Ricketts forced himself to his feet. He opened a fireplug valve, pulled out a hose, and directed water onto the growing blaze.
Moments later, he collapsed and died beside the hose.
His final act helped save the USS Yorktown and the lives of countless sailors.
For extraordinary heroism at the Battle of the Coral Sea, Lieutenant Milton E. Ricketts was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
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