Gold Star Mom Angelia Phillips: Happy 100th Birthday Mr. John Finn
by Gold Star MothersYou may not know who Mr. John Finn is, but you should. He is one of the true heroes who live among us. Today Mr. Finn turned 100-years-old. To simply live to that age may, to some, be an accomplishment in itself but to know who this man is and what he has done should amaze and humble you even more.
On Dec 7th 1941 many Heroes were made. John Finn received the Medal of Honor for his bravery on that day. He says he doesn’t deserve it and simply holds it for all the others who fought and died that December day. I disagree. On that December morning John held his position firing on the enemy for over two hours even though he himself had been hit 21 times. Several of his wounds were serious. Once the skies were quiet he sought medical help only after being ordered to. He then returned to help rearm the remaining airplanes at Kanoehe Bay. Because Kanoehe was hit five minutes before Pearl Harbor, many believe that John Finn is the first man to earn the Medal of Honor during WW2. But when you sit and listen to his stories he will tell you of his men, not of himself. Even at 100-years-old his mind is sharp and he loves to share his stories with those who will listen. And if you get the chance to meet Mr. Finn, listen to his stories for they are truly amazing.
John, my son Anthony, and I
I had the very humbling honor of sitting with him for several hours this past April at the Gainesville, TX Medal of Honor Week. In those hours I not only heard the stories of history from a man who lived it, I made a friend. While talking to his caretaker, Francis, I was stating how I can no longer take care of my son who was killed in Iraq and now feel it is my duty to take care of my son’s brothers in arms. Mr. Finn stopped in the middle of his conversation, pointed at me and said, “I like you missy. You get it.” He told me, “We can only mourn those who have fallen in war. We must honor them by taking care of those who come home, especially our wounded.” This put into words what my mission for the past year and a half.
Happy Birthday, John. I hope you have many more to come. You are truly a gift to this nation and me.
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45 Comments
[...] this link: Gold Star Mom Angelia Phillips: Happy 100th Birthday Mr. John Finn This entry is filed under America – Blogs, Big Hollywood. You can follow any responses to this [...]
Angelia – BZ! Great job!
LT Finn – Thank you, sir.
Thanks Finn for serving my country! Have a happy 100th!
Very well said Angelia, and poignantly written. I hope, very much, that enough people will read this post and truly take time to understand its full message. I join you in honoring Lt Finn, with enduring pride, gratitude and admiration.
It is so like so many who served in the military to say their actions were nothing special, and they just did their jobs. We, of course, no better. I appreciate Mr. Finn's service and join in wishing him a happy 100th.
It is so like so many who served in the military to say their actions were nothing special, and they just did their jobs. We, of course, know better. I appreciate Mr. Finn's service and join in wishing him a happy 100th.
Thank You, Ms. Phillips and God bless you and your son for your sacrifices…It is so wonderful to read about a true American hero. My admiration and thanks go out to John Finn for his personal sacrifices. Ms Phillips, John Finn got it right when he said " You Get It " because you surely do.____Keep on keepin' on
A retired sailor
Being there where he and his buddys exhibited such heroism is to stand in giants footsteps. One of the great things I can say I have done is not only see where Finn won his CMH but also visiting the USS Arizona…Finn is the man who stands out for all of those we lost that day. Fair Winds and Following Sea's Sailor. And yes you are a hero. You stand as our model!
Tears……
I wish I'd known about Gainesville's MOH week, I only live just over an hour away and it would've been an honor to have met Lt. Finn as well as the other recipients of our Nations highest award for valor.
When I was in the U.S Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor Hawaii, I used to sometimes don my dress whites and head over to the USS Arizona Memorial. As expected my uniform would draw former Sailors and I'd have the honor of speaking with these men and hearing of their service to the nation. What impressed me as much as their experiences was their humility, not one ever considered himself a hero but always knew someone that had been. Some closing lines of Shakespeares JULIUS CAESAR are a fitting tribute to these men:
"His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world,
"THIS WAS A MAN."
I agree with Mr. Finn, He doesn't deserve anything.
That's such a moving and inspirational post. A heroic mom introducing us to a hero!
Beautiful.
Medal of Honor Week is held Annually in Gainesville TX. Next years will be the 2nd week of April.
Thanks for the info, Maybe I'll see ya there.
Fair winds,
sanjuro
Quite a lady, I met her at the GATHERING OF EAGLES march in DC a couple of years back.
She's hell on wheels against those who disrespect the troops.
Um…I don't want to speak out of an erroneous assumption. Can you please explain your statement?
I wasn't at the Gathering of Eagles March.. I was at CPAC though. I believe you have me confused with Debbie Lee who is an AMAZING lady and Gold Star Mother.
Lt Finn may your name be blessed in the world to come
My apologies for the mix up. Thanks for caring and for sharing. Do hope to meet sometime.
Take care.
sanjuro
May the winds aIways catch your saiIs and the stars shine forever brightIy to navigate you home
Thank you for this wonderful tribute, Angelia. I can't say for sure, based on the picture here of Mr Finn, but I believe he is one of the men featured in a Pearl Harbor television documentary a few years back. He just stood out — not just for his heroism — but because he was such a delightful character to listen to about the history he lived so long ago.
Also, I would be truly remiss if I did not take this opportunity to extend to you and your family my sincere thanks for your son's service and sacrifice for all of us and our country. Condolences alone seem so inadequate, but please know that I extend them to you and yours with the greatest respect and admiration my heart possesses. I think daily of the young people like your son and his fellow soldiers who serve, and like Mr Finn — who have served through all our nation's wars. They truly deserve our highest support and gratitude.
In closing, let me thank you as well for passing along the information re the MOH event in Gainesville. God willing, I'll be there.
So wonderful to read about this special man. Thank you for sharing his story with us, quite an inspiration. Lt. Finn, and the men and women who serve are a blessing to this country.
The day that a troll like Soulja boy has the guts to explain such comments will be a most historic day. After all its only once in our life time that the world will come to an end.
[...] in addition to that, John Finn is a true American hero and someone you should know. A Gold Star Mom met with Finn on his birthday and tells about their [...]
Oh, I would be more than happy to speak on the assumption that, I am in no way erroneous. This hipster urban douche bag wished to regale us with his sophisticated, artistic and oh , so ironic, wit. Hip hop your scrawny a$$ outta here, mallcrawler. You will die a very lonely, useless death that affirms nothing and your dust will disintegrate, on a foul following sea. Sleep well, knowing others, who can and will assume thier place, will keep you safe and warm in your mother's basement. Bye now, kitten.
Happy birthday, Sir.
when the hardest thing this guy has had to face was resetting his Xbox because his player got killed off, you really don't want to hear any more do you?
when the hardest thing this guy has had to face was resetting his Xbox because his player got killed off, you really don't want to hear any more do you?
Besides, He is just trying to get a rise out of us
Thank you for reminding us how lucky we are to live in a safe and stable country with the fruits of past generations labors and sacrifices.
Mr Finn is a historic treasure and should be treated as such.
Thank you for having a son willing to serve his country without reserve or hesitation.
God bless you both!
Mr. Finn happy birthday, and thank you for your dedication and service!
Mrs. Phillips, this was a great article thanks for letting us know about this hero.
More importantly, thanks for raising a son who also was a hero. God Bless you,
your family and your son who is now in that infinetly better place. May God assuage
your grief and give you the grace of peace. Thanks for all you've done for me.
I had the opportunity to meet John Finn and two other World War II Congressional Medal of Honor recipients recently in Altamont, NY. Such awe I felt, in the presence of three REAL heroes, ordinary men, who in their moments of truth, rose to accomplish extraordinary feats of courage. I bow my head in deepest respect to these men and their fellows in arms, past and present.
Angelia Phillips, I wish your son did not have to die in battle, nobody's son or daughter should, but please know that I (and others, I hope) sincerely treasure your son's supreme sacrifice and yours. And yes, we must take care of those who truly took care of us. They represent the best this country has to offer the world.
Thank you Lt. Finn
V/R Chief Kanoff, USN
It is for people like Mr Finn that I oppose national health with every fiber of my being. The elderly deserve our greatest respect and treatment, not the sacrifice of rationed care. Thank you Mr Finn and Happy Birthday.
Oh great. I have to attend a status meeting, and now I'm all misty eyed.
Thank you for a heart warming tale. May the Lord bless you all!
Just another great article…. little do the people of the United States know what our HEROES have done for us, these stories need to told and written about. I think that there should be more books like "American Heroes" by Ollie North. This stories pass with them and we can NEVER FORGET WHAT OUR HEROES have done for us..
Kudos John, thanks for you service and for your honor of this great country!!!!
You sir are a FOOL!
I agree these stories need to listened to and retold.
When I met my wife's grandfather, Bronze Star recipient, one of seven men in his unit to survive the Battle of the Bulge. He opened up to me, a veteran of a different era, and told me stories that my wife or any other members of her family had never heard before.
Some time these men don't think they did anything great and that no one wants to hear their stories. So take some time and listen to their stories before they are gone.
Dang, me too. I don't live that far from Gainesville. What a great man. My dad lied about his age (he was 16) to get into the navy in WW2. He was a 20 yr navy veteran. It was only after his death that I learned of some of his heroic deeds and the dangers he faced during the war. He was a humble man and just wanted a simple life after his time at sea. Mr. Finn seems to be cut from the same cloth. God Bless him and the author of this piece for their sacrifice.
soulja boy….hmmm, maybe that should be soulless boy. You're definitely a "boy" allright. On second thought maybe you should be called stupid boy, yeah that's better. You are a waste of space and skin. You aren't worthy of licking Mr. Finn's boots, but I suspect you know that already, hater.
Now crawl back into your hole.
I never met John Finn but I know that he knew me, at least my mother and father. My father was an enlisted US Navy Pilot flying PBY-5 Catalinas in Navy Patrol Squdron VP-14 on Dec 7, 1941, John Finn's squadron. It took my father a little bit of time to get to the station, NAS Kaneohe Bay but he had a reason to be a bit late – me. He was at home with my mom who was pregnent with me and my father had that Sunday off. John Finn represents a tie to my very early life.
In any case, Happy birthdaty John.
Exactly. I couldn't help it.
Thank you, Mr. Finn for protecting my country. You are indeed a hero.
All the same, I would gladly punch some sense into his stupid face. Mr Finn at 100 years old is still 10 times the man that soulja bitch will ever be.
Thank you for your sacrifice, and Mr. Finn’s service. It’s cool to sit down and listen when these old soldiers want to talk, …learn.
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