This brief newsreel shows the presentation of the Navy Cross to the “hero of the USS Panay”, Lt. Arthur Anders, in San Pedro, California. The USS Panay incident on December 12, 1937, was a Japanese bombing attack on the American river gunboat Panay and three Standard Oil Company tankers on the Yangtze River. They strafed survivors in the water. Although wounded in the throat, Anders heroically assisted his crew and passengers, and wrote orders in his own blood to abandon ship.
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant] Arthur F. Anders, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. PANAY (PR-5) on the occasion of the bombing and loss of that vessel when it was attacked was attacked by Japanese airplanes during patrol in the Yangtze River, China, on 12 December 1937. Although severely wounded, suffering from loss of blood and unable to speak, Commander Anders remained at his duty station, directing the fire of PANAY’s machine-gun battery and supervising abandon-ship operations. Displaying selfless concern for the safety of the ship and those on board, he gave his orders and commands in writing, and was a source of inspiration for all who observed him. His great personal valor throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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