Navy Cook First Class William Pinckney’s heroism in the Battle of Santa Cruz on October 26th, 1942 led to his receiving the Navy Cross. He also is one of ten African-Americans to have a ship named after him. From the Commander, U.S. Naval Surface Force, United States Pacific Fleet, we learn the history of his valor.
The Burning Ladder
“William Pinckney received the Navy Cross for his courageous rescue of a fellow crewmember onboard the USS Enterprise (CV 6) during the Battle of Santa Cruz. When an explosion killed four of the six men at his battle station in an ammunition handling room, Pinckney and the other surviving Sailor attempted to exit through a hatch to the hangar deck above.”
‘Well, I did help a little here and there.’
“When the other man grasped the scorching hatch, he fell back unconscious. Despite the suffocating smoke, flames, and gasoline fumes surrounding him, Pinckney carried the Sailor to safety. For his selfless heroism, Pinckney was awarded the Navy Cross.”
William Pinckney was not a large man. He never considered himself a hero, either. He just did what he had to in order to save his shipmate. On his way up the ladder he touched an exposed electrical cable, and was thrown back down by the shock.
After he got Jim Bagwell, the gunner’s mate, up that ladder and out through the hatch, Pinckney went back down into the ammunition room and looked for other survivors. Pinckney felt around in the smoke and flames until he found each of the other men. Once he confirmed that they were dead, he came back up on to the hangar deck. The skin on his hands, right leg, and back had been burned badly.
‘When the first guy seemed to be surviving pretty good, I went below to see if I could help someone else but they were all killed and I couldn’t help anyone.’
The Navy’s history of the USS Pinckney continues. “When questioned about the incident, William displayed his trademark modesty saying, ‘Well, I did help a little here and there.’ When asked about returning into the fire after saving Bagwell, all he would say is, ‘Yeah, I guess that’s about right. When the first guy seemed to be surviving pretty good, I went below to see if I could help someone else but they were all killed and I couldn’t help anyone.’
“Pinckney was treated for shrapnel wounds and 3rd degree burns in Hawaii. While there he negotiated orders and spent the remainder of his eight years in the Navy at the Boat Basin in San Diego, California.”
Any time Pinckney was asked about his deeds that day, he only answered quietly that he was “proud to serve.” That statement is the motto of the ship that was named after him.
USS Pinckney
USS Pinckney (DDG 91) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, launched on 26 June 2002 and commissioned on 29 May 2004 at Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme. In February 2006 USS Pinckney returned to San Diego after a five-month maiden deployment to the western Pacific. The Pinckney has deployed several times as part of carrier groups associated with the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and the USS John C. Stennis (
CVN 64). It has deployed in support of the search for Malaysia Air Flight 370, the fight against pirates off the southern coast of Yemen, and missions related to the Global War on Terror.
Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ship’s Cook Third Class William Pinckney, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), in action against the enemy during the operations of the U.S. Naval Forces north of the Santa Cruz, Islands, on 26 October 1942. When a heavy bomb exploded in the near vicinity, Ship’s Cook Third Class Pinckney, standing at his battle station in the ammunition handling room, was knocked unconscious. With several compartments completely wrecked and four of his five comrades killed, he, regaining consciousness, groped his way through the burning and tangled wreckage to a point under an open hangar deck hatch. Just as he was about to escape he found a shipmate, the only other survivor of his party, struggling up through the hatch. When the man fell unconscious, either from his wounds or from smoke fumes, Ship’s Cook Third Class Pinckney, unmindful of his own danger, lifted his comrade through the hatch to safety before he himself battled his way out of the burning and smoke-filled compartment. By his dauntless courage in saving his comrade’s life at great risk to his own, Ship’s Cook Third Class Pinckney upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
