Francis P. Hammerberg
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| Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg | |
|---|---|
| May 31, 1920 - February 17, 1945 | |
 Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg |
|
| Place of birth | Daggett, Michigan |
| Allegiance | USN |
| Years of service | 1941-1945 |
| Rank | Boatswain's Mate |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg (31 May 1920 - 17 February 1945) was a United States Navy diver who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for rescuing two fellow divers.
Hammerberg was born at Daggett, Michigan, 31 May 1920; his family subsequently moved to Flint when he was young. He enlisted in the United States Navy 16 June 1941 and subsequently served in battleship Idaho (BB-42) and submarine chaser Advent (AM-83). In 1941, he underwent instruction at the Deep Sea Diving School, Washington, D.C., and was assigned duty with the Salvage Unit under Service Force, Pacific Fleet.
He lost his life during rescue operations at Pearl Harbor 17 February 1945. Disregarding all personal danger, he rescued one diver who had been trapped in a cave-in of steel wreckage while tunneling under a sunken LST. After this rescue, Hammerberg went even farther under the buried hulk and, while rescuing a second diver, was pinned down by another cave-in and perished. Boatswain's Mate Hammerberg was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
In 1955, the destroyer escort USS Hammerberg (DE-1015) was named for him. A street in Flint is also named Hammerberg in his honor.
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
