LEXINGTON HERO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1942, Page 5

LEXINGTON HERO

INTREPID MEDICAL OFFICER. REFUSAL TO ABANDON SHIP. Commander Arthur J. White, one of this war’s previously-undisclosed heroes and a survivor of the aircraft-car-rier Lexington, received the Navy. Cross during simple ceermonies at the United States Naval Academy, An napolis. One of the Lexington’s senior medical officers, Commander White was cited for his refusal to abandon ship although both his ankles and a shoulder were fractured and numerous wounds were inflicted by two explosions which shattered the stricken carrier in the Coral Sea. While Japanese torpedo-planes and dive-bombers dumped their loads on and about the Lexington, the middleaged doctor, who is from West Leispic, Ohio, transferred his wounded and dying patients from a shattered dressing station and thence to a rescue ship before leaving his post. Commander White first was wounded when a blast all but destroyed the dressing station he directed, blowing metal and other debris all about him. This was the first of two explosions which hastened the Lexington’s end. Covered with blood and hobbling about on his broken limbs, Dr White transferred all his patients to another improvised station, but then had to abandon these quarters when the second blast came. Although the carrier was in flames, he ignored all his subordinates’ entreaties to leave his post. Only after his final patient was removed did he consent to be lowered to the rescue ship.