Martin W.Bender Pearl Harbor survivor. Went on to serve on the USS Astoria (CA-34) from 12/41 until 8/42 when she was sunk at Battle of Salvo Island. Transferred to the USS O'Brien (DD-415) which was torpedoed on 9/15/42. After survivor leave was assigned to Service Squadron 10 in Admiralty Islands. From June 1944 until September 1944 was assigned to the USS Cassin Young (DD793) for Operations supporting the Tinian and Guam assults. Transferred to the USS Hancock (CV-19)on 17 September and returned to San Francisco in November 1945 at wars end. By wars end he survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor, surface battle at Salvo Islands, torpedoing from Jap submarine, and several komikazi attacks which led to the loss of 3 ships and the damage of two ships on which he served. He was awarded the following medals during his career; Silver Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal, American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation (Europe) Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal. Retired after 20 years in 1957. Testimonials: My father served proudly in the US Navy. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor having served on the battleship USS California (BB44) that was sunk on December 7th. His best friend Robert R. Scott was killed on that day and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions. My dad was transferred to the USS Astoria (CA-34) by December 15, 1941 and sailed on her until she was sunk on August 9, 1942. Picked up by the USS Helm (DD-388) he was transferred and assigned to the USS O'Brien (DD-415). She was hit by a Jap torpedo on September 15, 1942 and sunk a few weeks later. This time my dad was sent home on survivors leave. When he returned he was assigned to Service Squadron 10 in the Admiralty Islands repairing battle damaged ships. In September of 1943, and until the remainder of the war, he was on the USS Hancock (CV-19). He returned home in November 1945 to San Francisco on the USS Hancock. He stayed in the Navy serving in the occupation of Europe, Korean War, and during the crisis in the Mediterranean. He retired as a Master Chief from the USS Fechteler (DD-870) in 1957. He was awarded the following medals during his career; Silver Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Good Conduct, China Service Medal, American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation (Europe) Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Prior to WWII he played Baseball and Football for the Battleship California from 1936 ? 1941 helping earning the USS California the coveted ?Iron Man? Award in 1939. The ship with the most points earned the Iron Man Award. Points were given based on team standings. Each Battleship fielded a team for various sports such as Football, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Swimming, Wrestling, Sailing, etc. Prior to WWll the US Navy Battleship Fleet consisting of the USS California, Nevada, Tennessee, Iowa, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma competed for this award. It was the one thing my dad talked about all the time - those days of Battleship sports. The "Iron Man"
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