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during the operations of the U.S. Naval Forces north of the Santa Cruz, Islands, on 26 October 1942. When a heavy bomb exploded in the near vicinity, Ship's Cook Third Class
Pinckney, standing at his battle station in the ammunition handling room, was knocked unconscious. With several compartments completely wrecked and four of his five comrades killed, he, regaining consciousness, groped his way through the burning and tangled wreckage to a point under an open hangar deck hatch. Just as he was about to escape he found a shipmate, the only other survivor of his party, struggling up through the hatch. When the man fell unconscious, either from his wounds or from smoke fumes, Ship's Cook Third Class Pinckney, unmindful of his own danger, lifted his comrade through the hatch to safety before he himself battled his way out of the burning and smoke-filled compartment. By his dauntless courage in saving his comrade's life at great risk to his own, Ship's Cook Third Class Pinckney upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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hatch and fell unconscious, so
Pinckney pulled Bagwell over his shoulder and started climbing the ladder. During his first attempt, an electrical cable shocked Pinckney and he was thrown back and knocked unconscious again. When he regained consciousness, he grabbed Bagwell again and carried him through the hatch to safety. Pinckney then returned down the hatch to search for more survivors.
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said that
Pinckney "embodied the Navy's value of selfless service, at a time when the institution undervalued black service members. His willingness to give so much, and sacrifice for an institution which gave him so little, makes these acts for which he earned the Navy Cross that much more heroic."
302:
in
October 1942. On October 26, the ship was struck by two 250 kg bombs that killed 44 men and wounded 75. Pinckney's battle station was an ammunition handling room on the ship; when one of bombs penetrated the flight deck; the explosion knocked Pinckney unconscious and killed four of the other
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The
President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ship's Cook Third Class William Pinckney, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), in action against the enemy
306:
When
Pinckney regained consciousness, he discovered the compartments around him wrecked completely. He made his way through the burning wreckage to an open hangar deck hatch, where he found the only other surviving sailor, Gunner's Mate James Bagwell. The other sailor could not get up through the
238:, on April 27, 1915, to Renty and Jenny Pinckney. His father worked as a carpenter on shrimp boats while his mother died when he was eight years old. Pinckney attended school through the seventh grade then worked as a carpenter on shrimp boats before he joined the Navy.
779:"Records Relating to Personal Participation in World War II: Military Awards and Decorations," Reference Information Paper, Issue 92, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, 2000, page 19.
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While attending elementary school in South
Carolina, Pinckney met his future wife, Henrietta. He asked Henrietta to her first dance when she was fifteen and married her eight years later in
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professor Larry
Rowland discovered that Pinckney's headstone did not mention him receiving the Navy Cross. In 2018, a new headstone was unveiled that listed the Navy Cross.
800:"Remembering three heroes..." by Thaddeus Wright, Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, U.S. Department of the Navy, Supply Systems Command, Vol. 75, Issue 2, March–April 2012.
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655:" by Mark L. Evans, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command, April 26, 2017.
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gave a speech on the Senate floor about the "Service of
Negroes in the Navy" in which he read Pinckney's award citation.
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Pinckney received treatment in Hawaii for shrapnel wounds and third-degree burns before he spent the next four years at
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In 1943, Pinckney receiving the Navy Cross resulted in coverage across the United States, including in the
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829:" by Helen I. Rouce Washington File, Information Resource Center, U.S. State Department, March 10, 2000.
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also describes
Pinckney's heroism and shows a painting of him saving Bagwell's life. It also honors
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as a cook. At the time, cook was one of the few ratings open in the U.S. Navy to Black sailors.
352:. He died on July 21, 1976, after a two-year struggle with spinal cancer. He was buried in the
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Pinckney was one of only four African Americans to receive the Navy Cross during World War II.
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445:, commissioned on May 29, 2004, is named in his honor. In announcing the naming of the ship,
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197:. Pinckney received the medal for saving the life of a fellow crew member on board the
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After more than 40 years, Navy hero's headstone finally honors his bravery in WWII
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edited by Florence Murray, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, page 381.
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After 41 years this Beaufort veteran's headstone finally reflects his bravery
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791:, U.S. Government Printing Office, Volume 91, Part 6, 1945, pages 7286–7287.
639:" by Samuel de Korte, Traces of War, March 30, 2019, accessed July 14, 2022.
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216:
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Ship Crest and History of Navy Cook First Class William Pinckney, 1915–1975
768:"XD12654 1945 African Americans in WWII U.S. Navy Film 'The Negro Sailor,"
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entry at the Military Times Hall of Valor Project, accessed July 14, 2022.
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Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, U.S. Navy, February 15, 2018.
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Pinckney enlisted on August 3, 1938, and attended boot camp at
193:, the second-highest decoration for valor in combat after the
770:
Periscope Film stock footage library, accessed July 14, 2022.
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sailor who was the second African American to be awarded the
595:," USS Pinckney (DDG 91), U.S. Navy, accessed July 14, 2022.
314:. He left the Navy on June 30, 1946, as a Cook First Class.
827:
U.S. Navy Names Ship in Honor of African-American War Hero
279:, Pinckney took part in a number of battles including the
754:"Negro Heroes in the Present War" by Gertrude B. Rivers,
92:
Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina, US
626:, Naval History and Heritage Command, January 14, 2022.
613:," Naval History and Heritage Command, August 14, 2020.
624:
African American Sailors in the U.S. Navy A Chronology
536:. Naval History and Heritage Command. January 17, 2018
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with a painting showing Pinckney saving Bagwell's life
185:(April 27, 1915 – July 21, 1976) was a
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and was survived by his wife. They had no children.
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810:African Americans at War An Encyclopedia, Volume 1
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711:"President Awards Navy Cross to Heroic Cook,"
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882:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
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485:"Beaufort Recognizes Navy Cross Recipient,"
264:. He then reported to the aircraft carrier
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325:Pinckney later served for 26 years in the
303:five sailors in the compartment with him.
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872:Military personnel from South Carolina
359:Decades later, Beaufort historian and
897:Burials at Beaufort National Cemetery
758:, Vol. 7, No. 8 (May 1944), page 189.
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294:After repairs at Pearl Harbor, the
698:"Navy Cross to William Pinckney,"
503:"Cook 3rd Class William Pinckney,"
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877:African Americans in World War II
726:"Heroic Rescues Spur Bond Sale,"
611:Cook First Class William Pinckney
300:Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
207:Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
159:Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
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902:United States Merchant Mariners
739:"Navy Hero is Awarded Cross,"
289:Battle of the Eastern Solomons
1:
344:Additionally, Pinckney was a
839:The Negro Handbook 1946–1947
637:William Pinckney (1915–1976)
557:edited by James B. Martin,
555:African American War Heroes
421:In that same year, Senator
16:American sailor (1915–1976)
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887:United States Navy sailors
812:, by Jonathan Sutherland,
730:, June 15, 1945, Page 6-C.
404:The 1945 documentary film
354:Beaufort National Cemetery
18:
508:, accessed July 14, 2022.
130:Petty officer first class
41:
745:, June 19, 1943, Page 3.
717:, June 19, 1943, page 1.
81:Beaufort, South Carolina
19:Not to be confused with
226:is named in his honor.
756:Negro History Bulletin
702:June 13, 1943, page 7.
561:, 2014, pages 123–124.
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398:Negro History Bulletin
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728:Detroit Evening Times
685:" by Delayna Earley,
653:Enterprise VII (CV-6)
447:Secretary of the Navy
386:Detroit Evening Times
341:on November 6, 1943.
275:While serving on the
262:Great Lakes, Illinois
249:
234:Pinckney was born in
118:Years of service
21:Bill Pinkney (sailor)
789:Congressional Record
348:and a member of the
312:Naval Base San Diego
250:Image from the film
236:Dale, South Carolina
64:Dale, South Carolina
700:The New York Times,
672:, January 15, 2018.
668:" by Stassy Olmos,
457:Navy Cross citation
689:, January 7, 2018.
521:"William Pinckney"
416:Leonard Roy Harmon
383:in Cleveland, the
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187:United States Navy
112:United States Navy
816:, 2004, page 305.
687:The Island Packet
298:took part in the
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253:The Negro Sailor
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175:Purple Heart
154:World War II
150:Battles/wars
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76:(1976-07-21)
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862:1976 deaths
857:1915 births
329:as a cook.
205:during the
851:Categories
468:References
296:Enterprise
287:, and the
277:Enterprise
268:Enterprise
230:Early life
201:Enterprise
191:Navy Cross
171:Navy Cross
142:Enterprise
57:1915-04-27
436:destroyer
266:USS
220:USS
217:destroyer
199:USS
121:1938–1946
814:ABC-Clio
559:ABC-Clio
540:July 19,
443:(DDG 91)
441:Pinckney
395:and the
339:Beaufort
222:Pinckney
98:Service/
433:-class
389:, the
377:, the
367:Legacy
283:, the
214:-class
209:. The
167:Awards
144:(CV-6)
109:
100:branch
346:Mason
670:WSAV
542:2022
439:USS
428:The
414:and
361:USCB
140:USS
136:Unit
126:Rank
83:, US
71:Died
66:, US
51:Born
23:or
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