Vice Admiral John Bulkeley

John Duncan Bulkeley rounded off his training at the United States Naval Academy in 1933. And when the U.S. joined WWII, he was stationed in the Philippines manning the six vessels of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three. Bulkeley fought with General Douglas MacArthur and his entourage as the Philippines lost to the Japanese.

Bulkeley’s next conquest was in the 1944 D-Day invasion of France, his role of duty was being the commander of torpedo boats. He was also the destroyer of the USS Endicott.

With only one operational ship’s gun, he plunged into a fight with the Germans as they attacked the  British gunboats. Bulkeley not only successfully managed to sink the enemy craft but also managed to save both British and German sailors. His service earned him a deserved Medal of Honor.