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Pier Dedicated
to Enlisted Medal of Honor Recipient!
Story by JO3 McClain Shewman
- June, 1999
A ribbon cutting ceremony opening Sierra
Piers 8 & 9, Naval Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was held Friday, June
18, in dedication of Petty Officer Breault’s heroism. Breault was the first
enlisted submariner ever to earn the Medal of Honor. Rear Adm. Al Konetzni,
Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet was guest speaker.
After an accidental collision with
a steamship vessel in 1923, the submarine “0-5” sank bow-first in 42 feet
of ocean water in less than a minute. Due to the act of heroism displayed
by Torpedoman 2nd Class Henry Breault, a shipmate was saved from certain
death.
The display of uncommon valor and the
ability to put training into action is why the Navy dedicated the 865-foot
long, $24 millon pier to Breault.
“The United States is a maritime nation
dependent on the sea for commerce and defense,” said Rear Adm. Konetzni.
“The U.S. Submarine force has the world’s best submarines manned by superior
personnel who have been rigorously trained. America must preserve its undersea
superiority to maintain and preserve our national interests. The public
needs to understand that – and events like this on are ways we can shape
the future by honoring the past,” added Konetzni.
The new pier provides four berthing
spaces for submarines and offers an environmentally safe infrastructure.
The pier was given a Hawaiian blessing
and benediction by Kahu Kamaki A. Kanahele.
PICTURE
LINK-1 PICTURE
LINK-2
Petty Officer Breault was awarded the
Medal of Honor by President Calvin Coolidge on April 4th, 1924 and is the
first enlisted submariner to receive the award.
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