Bruce Van Voorhis Bruce Avery Van Voorhis ( January 29 , 1908 - July 6 , 1943 ) was a United States Navy aviator who was shot down in the Pacific theater during World War II . For his action on July 6 , 1943 , he was posthumous ly awarded the Medal of Honor . Biography . Van Voorhis was born on January 29 , 1908 in Aberdeen , Washington and grew up in Nevada . He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in June 1925 . Following graduation from the Academy on June 6 , 1929 , Ensign Van Voorhis reported for duty in the battleship . That assignment lasted until November 1930 when he transferred to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola , Florida for aviation training . He received his wings on September 3 , 1931 and was assigned to the as a member of Observation Squadron 4B ( VO - 4B ) . In June 1934 , he transferred to Bombing Squadron 5B on board the aircraft carrier , and soon thereafter , to VB - 2B attached to . From July 1935 until May 1937 , he served in the Panama Canal Zone and flew patrols from Coco Solo with Patrol Squadron 2F ( VP - 2F ) . The following June , Van Voorhis returned to carried - based aviation and served first in , then in , and finally back to " Enterprise " . In June 1940 , Van Voorhis joined the aviation unit assigned to the light cruiser where he served for a year . In July 1941 , he reported for duty at the Naval Air Station , Anacostia , where he served until November 1942 . In December 1942 , Van Voorhis , a Lieutenant Commander since July , assumed command of VP - 14 , but soon thereafter took command of VB - 102 . While serving in that capacity , LCDR Van Voorhis was killed near Hare Island of the Kapingamarangi Atoll , the southernmost of the Eastern Caroline Islands . After a 700 - mile flight alone , LCDR Van Voorhis launched successive bombing and strafing attacks on the enemy ground installations . During his attack , he succeeded in destroying a radio station , anti - aircraft emplacements , and at least one airborne fighter as well as three others on the water . However , the strength of Japan ese aerial opposition eventually forced Van Voorhis lower and lower until the anti - aircraft barrage , the fighters , or perhaps his own bomb blasts , caused the aircraft to crash . He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor . Van Voorhis is buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St . Louis County , Missouri . He has a headstone at Arlington National Cemetery which reads " In Memory of Bruce Van Voorhis " . Medal of Honor citation . For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Squadron Commander of Bombing Squadron 102 and as Plane Commander of a PB4Y - I Patrol Bomber operating against the enemy on Japanese - held Greenwich Island during the battle of the Solomon Islands , July 6 , 1943 . Fully aware of the limited chance of surviving an urgent mission , voluntarily undertaken to prevent a surprise Japanese attack against our forces , Lt . Comdr . Van Voorhis took off in total darkness on a perilous 700 - mile flight without escort or support . Successful in reaching his objective despite treacherous and varying winds , low visibility and difficult terrain , he fought a lone but relentless battle under fierce antiaircraft fire and overwhelming aerial opposition . Forced lower and lower by pursuing planes , he coolly persisted in his mission of destruction . Abandoning all chance of a safe return he executed 6 bold ground - level attacks to demolish the enemy ' s vital radio station , installations , antiaircraft guns and crews with bombs and machine gun fire , and to destroy 1 fighter plane in the air and 3 on the water . Caught in his own bomb blast , Lt . Comdr . Van Voorhis crashed into the lagoon off the beach , sacrificing himself in a single - handed fight against almost insuperable odds , to make a distinctive contribution to our continued offensive in driving the Japanese from the Solomons and , by his superb daring , courage and resoluteness of purpose , enhanced the finest traditions of the U . S . Naval Service . He gallantly gave his life for his country . Namesakes and honors . The U . S . Navy Dealey - class destroyer escort was named in honor of LCDR Van Voorhis . The " Van Voorhis " was commissioned on April 22 , 1957 ; she was decommissioned on July 1 , 1972 . The airfield at Naval Air Station Fallon is also named in his honor . There is also a United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps unit under his name the Van Voorhis squadron in Las Vegas , NV .