John James Powers earned the Medal of Honor posthumously during the Battle of the Coral Sea, for his heroic leadership. He sank one Japanese carrier, the Shoho, and damaged many other ships. As his squadron’s gunnery officer, he knew well the dangers of low altitude dive bombing and was most likely killed by his own bomb.

He told his squadron as they left to sortie,”Remember—the folks back home are counting on us. I am going to get a direct hit if I have to lay it on the flight deck.”

Honor and remember this great American leader!