Oswald A . Powers Oswald A . Powers ( 1915 – 1942 ) was a United States Navy officer who received the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions in combat during World War II . Naval career . Oswald Aaron Powers was born in Marine City , Michigan , on 25 November 1915 . He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as a seaman 2nd class , V - 5 , USNR , on 6 November 1940 at the United States Naval Reserve Aviation Base Grosse Ile at Grosse Ile , Michigan , and was placed on inactive duty that same day . Reporting for elimination flight training at Grosse Ile on 15 November 1940 , he satisfactorily completed that instruction on 14 December 1940 , and was retained on active duty . Appointed aviation cadet , USNR , on 5 February 1941 , to rank from 1 February 1941 , he was transferred to Naval Air Station Pensacola at Pensacola , Florida , on 6 February 1941 , and was issued a good discharge as a seaman 2nd class on 9 February 1941 to accept his appointment as aviation cadet . Reporting to Naval Air Station Pensacola on 10 February 1941 , Powers accepted his appointment and executed the oath of office the same day . Detached on 15 July 1941 and transferred to Naval Air Station Miami at Miami , Florida , for " further active duty undergoing training , " Powers was appointed a " naval aviator ( heavier than air ) " on 12 August 1941 . Released from " active duty involving training " on 5 September 1941 , he reported to Naval Air Station Miami that same day , the same day he also accepted his appointment and executed the oath of office as ensign , A - V ( N ) , USNR . Five days later , on 10 September 1941 , Ensign Powers was detached from NAS Miami and was transferred to the Advanced Carrier Training Group , United States Pacific Fleet , at Naval Air Station San Diego in San Diego , California , reporting for " active duty involving flying under training " on 3 October 1941 . Detached from Naval Air Station San Diego on 4 November 1943 , he reported to Torpedo Squadron 3 ( VT - 3 ) , based aboard the aircraft carrier USS " Saratoga " ( CV - 3 ) , on 5 November 1941 . After a Japan ese submarine torpedo ed " Saratoga " on 11 January 1942 and her subsequent departure for repairs at Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton , Washington , VT - 3 was based ashore , first at Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor , Territory of Hawaii , standing alert duty for island defense , then at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay at Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii , whence the squadron trained and continued to stand alerts . On 30 May 1942 , assigned to the air group of aircraft carrier USS " Yorktown " ( CV - 5 ) , replacing Torpedo Squadron 5 ( VT - 5 ) aboard " Yorktown " , VT - 3 flew aboard as " Yorktown " departed Pearl Harbor to participate in what would become known as the Battle of Midway . On 4 June 1942 , " Yorktown " launched VT - 3 and Bombing Squadron 3 ( VB - 3 ) , covered by fighter s from Fighting Squadron 3 ( VF - 3 ) , to attack the Japanese aircraft carrier force in concert with a strike from aircraft carriers USS " Enterprise " ( CV - 6 ) and USS " Hornet " ( CV - 8 ) . Circumstances , however , dictated that only the " Yorktown " Air Group attacked as a unit , with VT - 3 the last of the three American carrier torpedo squadrons to execute brave low - level attacks against the Japanese carriers . Japanese Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 00 carrier fighters , however , overwhelmed the six - plane VF - 3 covering element , and , in concert with heavy antiaircraft fire from the Japanese carriers and their screening ships , shot down ten of the twelve VT - 3 ' s Douglas TBD - 1 Devastator torpedo bomber s participating in the raid . Ensign Powers and his radio gunner , Seaman 2nd Class Joseph E . Mandeville , perished in the attack . Powers was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his " self - sacrificing gallantry and fortitude . . . in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service . . . " Commemoration . The U . S . Navy destroyer escort USS " Oswald A . Powers " ( DE - 452 ) , launched in 1943 but never completed , was named for Ensign Powers .