Elmer Charles Bigelow
Watertender First Class, U.S. Navy
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Watertender First Class Elmer Charles Bigelow (12 July 1920 - 15 February 1945) was a U.S. Navy sailor who was posthumously awarded America's highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor.

Elmer Charles Bigelow was born on 12 July 1920 in Hebron, IL. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve at Chicago, IL, in September 1942 and received training at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, IL, and at Lawrence, KS, before being assigned as a Fireman Third Class on board the destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-445) in June 1943. While serving in that ship, he advanced in rate to Watertender Second Class.

On 14 February 1945, Bigelow's actions averted tragedy on board the USS Fletcher. While assisting minesweeping operations prior to landings on Manila Bay's Corregidor Island, Fletcher was hit by an enemy shell that penetrated the No. 1 gun magazine, igniting several powder cases. Bigelow picked up a pair of fire extinguishers and rushed below in a resolute attempt to quell the raging flames. Refusing to waste the precious time required to don rescue-breathing apparatus, Bigelow plunged through the blinding smoke billowing out of the magazine hatch and dropped into the blazing compartment. Despite the acrid, burning powder smoke which seared his lungs, he succeeded in quickly extinguishing the fires and in cooling the cases and bulkheads, thereby preventing further damage to the ship. However Bigelow was badly injured and succumbed to his injuries the following day. Bigelow was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Watertender First Class, U.S. Naval Reserve.

Place and date: Corregidor Island, the Philippines, 14 February 1945.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving on board the U.S.S. Fletcher during action against enemy Japanese forces off Corregidor Island in the Philippines, 14 February 1945. Standing topside when an enemy shell struck the Fletcher, Bigelow, acting instantly as the deadly projectile exploded into fragments which penetrated the No. 1 gun magazine and set fire to several powder cases, picked up a pair of fire extinguishers and rushed below in a resolute attempt to quell the raging flames. Refusing to waste the precious time required to don rescue-breathing apparatus, he plunged through the blinding smoke billowing out of the magazine hatch and dropped into the blazing compartment. Despite the acrid, burning powder smoke which seared his lungs with every agonizing breath, he worked rapidly and with instinctive sureness and succeeded in quickly extinguishing the fires and in cooling the cases and bulkheads, thereby preventing further damage to the stricken ship. Although he succumbed to his injuries on the following day, Bigelow, by his dauntless valor, unfaltering skill and prompt action in the critical emergency, had averted a magazine explosion which undoubtedly would have left his ship wallowing at the mercy of the furiously pounding Japanese guns on Corregidor, and his heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

Honors

The destroyer USS Bigelow (DD-942), 1957-1990, was named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Watertender First Class Elmer Charles Bigelow died on 15 February 1945 as a result of injuries sustained the previous day in helping save his ship, the USS Fletcher, from further damage. He is buried at Linn-Hebron Cemetery in Hebron, IL.