John Michael Bermingham
Encyclopedia
John Michael Bermingham was born in New York City
on July 5, 1905 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1929.
, USS Utah
, and the cruiser USS Augusta, as well as various shore stations.
of destroyer
USS Stewart
. At the outbreak of war with Japan
, on December 7, 1941, Bermingham was a Lieutenant Commander
and second-in-command of the four-piper destroyer USS Peary
. During the first Japanese
attack on Cavite
, December 10, Peary's commanding officer was wounded and Bermingham took command.
The ship was assigned to offshore patrol and came under heavy air attack many times in the following days. Only brilliant seamanship during bombing and torpedo
attacks 26 and December 27 saved her from destruction.
Despite Japanese air superiority, Bermingham succeeded in bringing his ship to Darwin
, Australia
, to operate with ABDACOM
naval forces attempting to hold the "Malay Barrier". Peary operated with the cruiser USS Houston
in early February.
In mid-February, Peary was part of an unsuccessful attempt to resupply Allied forces under attack on Timor
. She was anchored at Darwin when the Japanese attacked in a massive bombing raid on February 19, 1942. Bermingham got his ship underway and attempted to maneuver in the restricted waters; but, despite valiant antiaircraft fire, his ship was hit with five bombs. Bermingham and about 80 of his crew went down with the ship. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
for his courage and leadership while commanding Peary during this crucial early period of the war.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on July 5, 1905 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1929.
Naval career
During the 1930s, Bermingham served in many ships, including the battleships USS WyomingUSS Wyoming (BB-32)
USS Wyoming , the lead ship of her class of battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named Wyoming, although it was only the second named in honor of the 44th state....
, USS Utah
USS Utah (BB-31)
USS Utah was a battleship that was attacked and sunk in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. A Florida-class battleship, she was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the U.S. state of Utah...
, and the cruiser USS Augusta, as well as various shore stations.
World War II
In 1940, Bermingham was appointed executive officerExecutive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
of destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
USS Stewart
USS Stewart (DD-224)
USS Stewart was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the second ship named for Rear Admiral Charles Stewart. Scuttled in a port, she was later raised by the Japanese and commissioned as Patrol Boat No. 102...
. At the outbreak of war with Japan
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, on December 7, 1941, Bermingham was a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
and second-in-command of the four-piper destroyer USS Peary
USS Peary (DD-226)
USS Peary was a in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Admiral Robert Edwin Peary.Peary was laid down by William Cramp and Sons of Philadelphia on 9 September 1919; launched on 6 April 1920; sponsored by Mrs...
. During the first Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
attack on Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
, December 10, Peary's commanding officer was wounded and Bermingham took command.
The ship was assigned to offshore patrol and came under heavy air attack many times in the following days. Only brilliant seamanship during bombing and torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
attacks 26 and December 27 saved her from destruction.
Despite Japanese air superiority, Bermingham succeeded in bringing his ship to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, to operate with ABDACOM
American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, or ABDACOM, was a short-lived, supreme command for all Allied forces in South East Asia, in early 1942, during the Pacific War in World War II...
naval forces attempting to hold the "Malay Barrier". Peary operated with the cruiser USS Houston
USS Houston (CA-30)
USS Houston , nicknamed the "Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast", was a Northampton-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy...
in early February.
In mid-February, Peary was part of an unsuccessful attempt to resupply Allied forces under attack on Timor
Battle of Timor (1942-43)
The Battle of Timor occurred in Portuguese Timor and Dutch Timor during the Second World War. Japanese forces invaded the island on 20 February 1942 and were resisted by a small, under-equipped force of Allied military personnel—known as Sparrow Force—predominantly from Australia and the...
. She was anchored at Darwin when the Japanese attacked in a massive bombing raid on February 19, 1942. Bermingham got his ship underway and attempted to maneuver in the restricted waters; but, despite valiant antiaircraft fire, his ship was hit with five bombs. Bermingham and about 80 of his crew went down with the ship. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for his courage and leadership while commanding Peary during this crucial early period of the war.