Name Mervyn Bennion | Years of service 1910-1941 Siblings Howard Bennion | |
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Born May 5, 1887Vernon, Utah ( 1887-05-05 ) Allegiance United States of America Commands held USS Bernadou (DD-153)Destroyer Division OneUSS West Virginia (BB-48) Battles/wars World War IWorld War IIAttack on Pearl Harbor † Died December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, Honolulu County, Hawaii, Hawaii, United States Place of burial Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Similar People Heber J Grant, George Q Cannon, John Taylor, George Albert Smith, Wilford Woodruff | ||
Mervyn Sharp Bennion (May 5, 1887 – December 7, 1941) was a captain in the United States Navy who died during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. While mortally wounded, he remained in command of his ship. For "conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life," he posthumously received the Medal of Honor.
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Family background
Bennion was born in Vernon, Utah Territory on May 5, 1887. The religion of the family, which he shared, was The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His Welsh grandfather, John Bennion, had immigrated to Utah with the Mormon pioneers and established successful cattle operations near Taylorsville, Utah. Bennion was living near Preston, Idaho when he received his acceptance to the United States Naval Academy. Bennion graduated third in his 1910 class from the USNA. Coincidentally, his younger brother Howard Bennion, graduated first in his class of 1912 at the United States Military Academy.
Career as a naval officer
His first assignment after graduation was on the USS California (ACR-6) in the engineering division. Subsequently, he was an ordnance and gunnery specialist serving in the Ordnance Bureau at Washington Naval Yard during World War I. Bennion's first command was the destroyer USS Bernadou (DD-153), followed by command of Destroyer Division One. He assumed command of the USS West Virginia on July 2, 1941.
Captain Bennion was killed in action during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, while in command of the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48). He was mortally wounded by a shrapnel shard from a bomb that blew up part of his command deck. Cook Third Class Doris Miller and several other sailors attempted to move Captain Bennion to a first aid station, but he refused to leave his post. Using one arm to hold his wounds closed, Bennion bled to death on the spot while still commanding his crew. Captain Bennion posthumously received the Medal of Honor. He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Medal of Honor citation
Honors
On July 4, 1943, the destroyer USS Bennion (DD-662), named in his honor, was christened by his widow.
In popular culture
Captain Bennion was portrayed by Peter Firth in the 2001 film, Pearl Harbor.