| William Badders | |
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Chief Machinist's Mate William Badders, January 19, 1940 |
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| Born | September 15, 1901 Harrisburg, Illinois |
| Died | November 23, 1986 (aged 85) |
| Place of burial | San Francisco National Cemetery San Francisco, California |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1918 - 1919 (Naval Reserve) 1919 - 1940 (regular Navy) |
| Rank | Chief Machinist's Mate |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Navy Cross World War I Victory Medal Yangtse River Patrol Service Medal |
William Badders (September 15, 1901 – November 23, 1986) was a diver in the United States Navy and a recipient of America's highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor.
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William Badders was born in Harrisburg, Illinois, on September 15, 1901. He enrolled in the Naval Reserve in August 1918 and transferred to the regular Navy in December 1919. Later trained as a diver, Badders was awarded the Navy Cross for "extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty" during the salvage of USS S-51 (SS-162) in 1926. He was designated a Master Diver in April 1931 and received commendations for his diving work in salvaging USS S-4 (SS-109) in 1928 and the Japanese steamship Kaku Maru in 1932, and for clearing the propeller of USS Bittern (AM-36) at sea in 1933.
Chief Machinist's Mate Badders was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the rescue of survivors of USS Squalus (SS-192) and subsequent salvage of that submarine in 1939. He was Senior Member of the rescue chamber crew and served as a diver during the salvage effort. He transferred to the Fleet Reserve in March 1940.
William Badders died on November 23, 1986 and was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco, California.
William Badders' official Navy Medal of Honor citation is as follows:
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as a Diver with the Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon, during the rescue and salvage operations following the sinking of the U.S.S. Squalus on 1939-05-13. During the rescue operations, Chief Machinist's Mate Badders, as senior member of the rescue chamber crew, made the last extremely hazardous trip of the rescue chamber to attempt to rescue any possible survivors in the flooded after portion of the Squalus. He was fully aware of the great danger involved in that if he and his assistant became incapacitated, there was no way in which either could be rescued. During the salvage operations, Chief Machinist's Mate Badders made important and difficult dives under the most hazardous conditions. His outstanding performance of duty contributed much to the success of the operations and characterizes conduct far above and beyond the ordinary call of duty.