Existing comment:
Hat and Epaulets:
The cocked hat and epaulets belonged to Lt Milton Ricketts, who received the Medal of Honor for his heroism on board Yorktown in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Milton Ricketts (1913-1942) USNA 1935:
Upon graduation, Ricketts served two years on the carrier Ranger and then joined the commissioning crew of Yorktown.
During the Battle of the Coral Sea, a bomb exploded in the compartment directly below the engineering repair party that Ricketts directed. Every man in the party was killed or severely injured. Despite his own injuries, Ricketts managed to open the valve to a fireplug and directed water onto the fire, preventing its spread. Ricketts died at his station, and received a posthumous Medal of Honor. |