John C. England
Encyclopedia
Ensign
John Charles England (December 11, 1920 – December 7, 1941) was an officer in the United States Navy
.
, on December 11, 1920. His family then moved to Alhambra, California
. He attended Alhambra High School, as did his sister Lennie England (Bemiss). He was president of his graduating class in 1938, acted in the senior play, was a member of the Light and Shadow drama club and Senior Hi-Y. He was voted Yell King of his senior class according to his sister Lennie. He later attended Pasadena City College
, Pasadena, California
graduating in 1940. He was a Yell King on the Pep Commission, a member of the Players Guild, where he was in the cast of their annual fall presentation of, "Bachelor Born". He was also a member of Delta Psi Omega
, a national honorary dramatics fraternity performing in their annual spring production, "Outward Bound". J.C. graduated in spring, 1940.
He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as an Apprentice Seaman at Los Angeles on September 6, 1940. After active duty training on board the USS New York
from November 25, to December 21, 1940 he attended Naval Reserve Midshipman's School, New York, N.Y. and was appointed Midshipman, USNR, March 6, 1941. He completed his training on June 5 and was commissioned Ensign, USNR, June 6, 1941.
He was next assigned duty under instruction at the Naval Radio School, Norton Heights, Connecticut
, reporting June 20, 1941. Upon detachment from school, he reported on September 3, 1941 to the USS Oklahoma
at Pearl Harbor.
During this period he had also married and in early December he was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his wife and three week old daughter (Victoria Louise England) who were due to arrive in a few days. He had never seen his daughter.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, just four days from his 21st birthday John C. England volunteered to work in the ship's radio room for a friend so that he might have more time with his family when they arrived. That morning the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
and the USS Oklahoma was one of their first targets.
Oklahoma was moored at Battleship Row 7, outboard alongside Maryland. USS Oklahoma took 3 torpedo hits almost immediately after the first Japanese bombs fell. As she began to capsize, 2 more torpedoes struck home, and her men were strafed as they abandoned ship. Within 20 minutes after the attack began, she had swung over until halted by her masts touching bottom, her starboard side above water, and a part of her keel clear.
Ensign England survived the initial attack and escaped topside as the ship was capsizing. He remembered the men still in the radio room. He returned three times to the radio room, each time guiding a man to safety. He left to go back below decks for the fourth time and was never seen again. He was one of twenty officers and 395 enlisted men who were killed on board USS Oklahoma that morning. Ensign England's gallant effort saved three men, but cost him his life.
His family would hear of his death by Postal Telegram sent by Rear Admiral
Nimitz on December 16, 1941.
for him. In 1943, the USS England (DE-635)
was named to honor John Charles England and his heroism. His mother Thelma cracked the ceremonial bottle of champagne on England 's bow in San Francisco Harbor
on September 26, 1943. Lennie England served as maid of honor and kept the ribbon wrapped bottle until her death in 1995.
Alhambra High School continues to award the John C. England award to their most outstanding senior each year.
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
John Charles England (December 11, 1920 – December 7, 1941) was an officer in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Biography
John Charles England was born in Harris, MissouriHarris, Missouri
Harris is a city in Sullivan County, Missouri, United States. The population was 61 at the 2010 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Harris is located at ....
, on December 11, 1920. His family then moved to Alhambra, California
Alhambra, California
Alhambra is a city located in the western San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, United States, which is approximately eight miles from the Downtown Los Angeles civic center. As of the 2010 census, the population was 83,089, down from 85,804 at the 2000 census. The city's...
. He attended Alhambra High School, as did his sister Lennie England (Bemiss). He was president of his graduating class in 1938, acted in the senior play, was a member of the Light and Shadow drama club and Senior Hi-Y. He was voted Yell King of his senior class according to his sister Lennie. He later attended Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College is a community college in Pasadena, California, USA, located on Colorado Boulevard. PCC is the third largest community college campus in the United States. PCC was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. In 1954, Pasadena Junior College merged with another junior...
, Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
graduating in 1940. He was a Yell King on the Pep Commission, a member of the Players Guild, where he was in the cast of their annual fall presentation of, "Bachelor Born". He was also a member of Delta Psi Omega
Alpha Psi Omega
Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society is an American recognition honor society recognizing participants in collegiate theatre. The Alpha Cast was founded at Fairmont State College on August 12, 1925 by professor Paul F...
, a national honorary dramatics fraternity performing in their annual spring production, "Outward Bound". J.C. graduated in spring, 1940.
He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as an Apprentice Seaman at Los Angeles on September 6, 1940. After active duty training on board the USS New York
USS New York (BB-34)
USS New York was a United States Navy battleship, the lead ship of her class of two . She was the fifth ship to carry her name....
from November 25, to December 21, 1940 he attended Naval Reserve Midshipman's School, New York, N.Y. and was appointed Midshipman, USNR, March 6, 1941. He completed his training on June 5 and was commissioned Ensign, USNR, June 6, 1941.
He was next assigned duty under instruction at the Naval Radio School, Norton Heights, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, reporting June 20, 1941. Upon detachment from school, he reported on September 3, 1941 to the USS Oklahoma
USS Oklahoma (BB-37)
USS Oklahoma , the only ship of the United States Navy to ever be named for the 46th state, was a World War I-era battleship and the second of two ships in her class; her sister ship was . She, along with her sister, were the first two U.S...
at Pearl Harbor.
During this period he had also married and in early December he was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his wife and three week old daughter (Victoria Louise England) who were due to arrive in a few days. He had never seen his daughter.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, just four days from his 21st birthday John C. England volunteered to work in the ship's radio room for a friend so that he might have more time with his family when they arrived. That morning the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
and the USS Oklahoma was one of their first targets.
Oklahoma was moored at Battleship Row 7, outboard alongside Maryland. USS Oklahoma took 3 torpedo hits almost immediately after the first Japanese bombs fell. As she began to capsize, 2 more torpedoes struck home, and her men were strafed as they abandoned ship. Within 20 minutes after the attack began, she had swung over until halted by her masts touching bottom, her starboard side above water, and a part of her keel clear.
Ensign England survived the initial attack and escaped topside as the ship was capsizing. He remembered the men still in the radio room. He returned three times to the radio room, each time guiding a man to safety. He left to go back below decks for the fourth time and was never seen again. He was one of twenty officers and 395 enlisted men who were killed on board USS Oklahoma that morning. Ensign England's gallant effort saved three men, but cost him his life.
His family would hear of his death by Postal Telegram sent by Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
Nimitz on December 16, 1941.
Namesakes and honors
Two ships have been named USS EnglandUSS England
USS England has been the name of two ships in the United States Navy. Both were named for Ensign John C. England.* The was commissioned in 1943 and decommissioned in 1945...
for him. In 1943, the USS England (DE-635)
USS England (DE-635)
USS England , a of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Ensign John C. England , who was killed in action aboard the battleship during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941...
was named to honor John Charles England and his heroism. His mother Thelma cracked the ceremonial bottle of champagne on England 's bow in San Francisco Harbor
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
on September 26, 1943. Lennie England served as maid of honor and kept the ribbon wrapped bottle until her death in 1995.
Alhambra High School continues to award the John C. England award to their most outstanding senior each year.