Samuel Fuqua: Hero of Pearl Harbor

The lieutenant commander of the USS Arizona kept a calm mind, and saved several lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Glenn Fuqua, USN, from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1948, The Navy." U.S. Navy. Public Domain

When Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Fuqua first heard air raid sirens onboard the USS Arizona, he thought it was just a drill. Then, he saw a Japanese fighter plane overheard. He was in the midst of the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor.

A Day to Remember

Fuqua was enjoying his breakfast on Dec. 7, 1941 when the air raid sirens went off at 7:55 a.m. Since the United States was at peace at the time, Fuqua and his fellow sailors at first thought that it was just a drill that went off from time to time.

He soon realized that this was no drill. Fuqua rushed up to the quarterdeck only to be met with a plane flying overheard with guns blazing.