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Photo # NH 105631:  Commander Richard N. Antrim, USN

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Rear Admiral Richard N. Antrim, USN (Retired), (1907-1969)

Richard Nott Antrim was born on 17 December 1907 in Peru, Indiana. Following a year of enlisted Naval Reserve service, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1927. Graduated in June 1931 and receiving a commission in the rank of Ensign, he briefly served in the Eleventh Naval District offices at San Diego, California, then reported for sea duty in the battleship New York. In April 1932, he began instruction at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, after which he returned to sea in the oiler Salinas, ammunition ship Nitro, and light cruiser Trenton. Antrim then helped to fit out and subsequently served on board the heavy cruiser Portland. In June 1934, while assigned to the latter ship, he was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. Following a brief tour on board the destroyer Crowninshield, in July 1936 he was assigned to Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey for training and duty with lighter-than-air-aircraft (dirigibles and balloons). In May 1938, he became Executive Officer of the minesweeper Bittern. Antrim was promoted to Lieutenant in July 1939 and in December transferred to the destroyer Pope as her the Executive Officer. While serving in that Asiatic Fleet ship in September 1940, he received his designation as a Naval Aviator (LTA).

During the first months of World War II, Pope participated in the desperate struggle to defend the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies. On 1 March 1942, following the Battle of the Java Sea, she attempted to escort the damaged British heavy cruiser Exeter out of the combat zone, but was sunk by aircraft bombs when the little force was intercepted by the enemy. Though wounded, Lieutenant Antrim led the ship's survivors as they drifted at sea for three days, until the enemy picked them up and took them to a prisoner of war facility at Makassar, Celebes. In April 1942, when a fellow officer was being viciously beaten and close to death, Antrim bravely stepped forward and offered to take the rest of the punishment, stunning the Japanese guards, inspiring the Allied prisoners, and creating among the enemy a new-found respect for their American captives. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, Antrim was awarded the Medal of Honor.

While a Prisoner of War, he continued his leadership role and devised a clever method of communicating the identity of the prison camp to Allied forces. He was temporarily promoted to Commander in November 1942, which rank was made permanent in 1949. Following liberation in September 1945, Antrim returned to the United States and attended the Repatriated Prisoner of War Refresher Course. He then received training at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey, the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, and the Fleet Sonar School, San Diego, California. He was commanding officer of the destroyer Turner in 1947 and 1948, followed by a Lighter Than Air Planning and Programs assignment at the Office of Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C. While in this post, he was promoted in July 1950 to Captain. Remaining in the National Capital during the early 1950s, Antrim served with the Policy Advisory Staff at the Department of State and on the Psychological Strategy Board. Beginning in August 1952, he commanded the attack transport Montrose. Returning to Washington D.C. in June 1953, Captain Antrim became the Head of the Naval Amphibious Warfare Matters Section in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Due to health problems, he retired in June 1954 and was promoted at that time to the rank of Rear Admiral on the retired list. Richard N. Antrim died on 8 March 1969 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

USS Antrim (FFG-20), 1981-1998, was named in honor of Rear Admiral Richard N. Antrim.

This page features the only images we have concerning Richard N. Antrim.


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Photo #: NH 105632

Ensign Richard N. Antrim, USN


Portrait photograph taken circa 1931-1934. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" while a Prisoner of War at Makassar, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies when he saved a fellow Naval officer from being beaten to death by Japanese guards in April 1942. When the officer was at the point of unconsciousness, Antrim stepped forward to take the remainder of the officer's punishment, stunning the Japanese guards and inspiring the Allied prisoners.
During the time of this action, Antrim was a Lieutenant.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 46KB; 580 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 105631

Commander Richard N. Antrim, USN


Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 151.
Richard N. Antrim was awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" while a Prisoner of War at Makassar, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies when he saved a fellow Naval officer from being beaten to death by Japanese guards in April 1942. When the officer was at the point of unconsciousness, then-Lieutenant Antrim stepped forward to take the remainder of the officer's punishment, stunning the Japanese guards and inspiring the Allied prisoners.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 37KB; 620 x 765 pixels

 



Medal of Honor citation of Commander Richard Nott Antrim, USN (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 151):

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while interned as a Prisoner of War of the enemy Japanese in the city of Makassar, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, in April 1942. Acting instantly on behalf of a Naval officer who was subjected to a vicious clubbing by a frenzied Japanese guard venting his insane wrath upon the helpless prisoner, Commander (then Lieutenant) Antrim boldly intervened, attempting to quiet the guard and finally persuading him to discuss the charges against the officer. With the entire Japanese force assembled and making extraordinary preparations for the threatened beating, and with the tension heightened by 2,700 Allied prisoners rapidly closing in, Commander Antrim courageously appealed to the fanatic enemy, risking his own life in a desperate effort to mitigate the punishment. When the other had been beaten unconscious by 15 blows of a hawser and was repeatedly kicked by three soldiers to a point beyond which he could not survive, Commander Antrim gallantly stepped forward and indicated to the perplexed guards that he would take the remainder of the punishment, throwing the Japanese completely off balance in their amazement and eliciting a roar of acclaim from the suddenly inspired Allied prisoners. By his fearless leadership and valiant concern for the welfare of another, he not only saved the life of a fellow officer and stunned the Japanese into sparing his own life but also brought about a new respect for American officers and men and a great improvement in camp living conditions. His heroic conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon Commander Antrim and the United States Naval Service."


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 29 March 2008