Medal of Honor - Johnnie David Hutchins

On September 4, 1943, the USS LST 473 was operating as part of General Douglas MacArthur's VII Amphibious Force off the eastern coast of New Guinea. She was carrying hundreds of troops from Australia’s famed 9th Division (known as the “Rats of Tobruk”) in what was the first amphibious assault in the Southwest Pacific. The invasion forces were operating without fighter cover and without the benefit of pre-inavasion shore bombardment. Allied forces were attempting to "leap-frog" around Japanese strongholds to isolate and neutralize them. LST 473 was one of six LSTs and four destroyers on their way to reinforce a recently landed Australian assault force east of Lae, when they were attacked by 12 Japanese torpedo planes and 15 dive bombers. During the air attack, 2 Japanese torpedoes pierced the surf and bore down on the 473 with deadly accuracy. In the tense split seconds before the the helmsmen could steer clear of the threatening torpedoes, 2 - 500 lb. bombs struck the upper deck. One of the bombs detonated the 20 mm ammunition magazine just in front of the pilothouse. The blast from the bombs dislodged the helmsmen from his station, leaving the stricken ship helplessly exposed. Flames then quickly engulfed the pilot house. Fully aware of the dire peril of the situation, Hutchins, although mortally wounded by the shattering explosions, quickly grabbed the helm and steered the ship past the torpedoes. He died clutching the helm, giving his last ounce of strength to save his shipmates. In death, his hands had to be pried off the helm. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous valor above and beyond the call of duty, Seaman First Class Hutchins was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.