CDR Cassin Young, 47, USN (1894–1942)
USS Vestal (AR-4)
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
December 7, 1941
Presented April 18, 1942
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to CDR Cassin Young (NSN: 0-9615), United States Navy, for distinguished conduct in action, outstanding heroism and utter disregard of his own safety, above and beyond the call of duty, as Commanding Officer of the USS VESTAL (AR-4), during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by enemy Japanese forces on December 7, 1941.
CDR Young proceeded to the bridge and later took personal command of the three-inch anti-aircraft gun. When blown overboard by the blast of the forward magazine explosion of the USS ARIZONA (BB-39), to which the USS VESTAL was moored, he swam back to his ship. The entire forward part of the USS ARIZONA was a blazing inferno with oil afire on the water between the two ships; as a result of several bomb hits, the USS VESTAL was afire in several places, was settling and taking on a list. Despite severe enemy bombing and strafing at the time, and his shocking experience of having been blown overboard, CDR Young, with extreme coolness and calmness, moved his ship to an anchorage distant from the USS ARIZONA, and subsequently beached the USS VESTAL upon determining that such action was required to save his ship.