Howard Harrison Branyon
Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on May 13, 1900, the only child of Richard Lewis Branyon and Lillian Marie Harrison. Lillian, born in Greenville County in 1878, died at age 32, when Howard was nine; he carries her maiden name. Lillian's parents were John Hampton Harrison (1840) and Nannie Latimer Harrison (1854) of South Carolina. When Howard turned 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWI and served in France in 1919. On New Year's Eve, December 31, 1934, Howard married Rilla Ida McReynolds in Carson City, Nevada. Rilla was in Hawaii with Howard on December 7, 1941 when he was stationed at Pearl Harbor on the flagship U.S.S. Pennsylvania, sister ship of the U.S.S. Arizona, and drove him to the ship when the surprise attack started. Howard survived the air attacks, helped in the rescue operations and went on to participate in several naval battles in the South Pacific, including Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross. Old Sailors never die they just return to the sea – Lt. Commander Ret. Howard H. Branyon died April 9, 1969 in Long Beach, Los Angeles, California at age 68 and was buried at sea with honors by the U.S. Navy, 10 miles out from Santa Catalina Island in the Pacific Ocean.
Howard Branyon, Navy Cross Citation, March 28, 1943, Admiral William Halsey
The President of the United States of America is pleased to the Navy Cross to Chief Boatswain Howard H. Branyon, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in action against the enemy while serving Commander of Patrol Ship YP-239, in the waters between Tulagi and Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, during the period from 1 September 1942 to 2 November 1942. Chief Boatswain Branyon was in command of a small auxiliary naval craft used in transporting essential men and supplies. His craft averaged at least one trip a day, many of the trips having been made under heavy enemy fire and at night, under the most trying circumstances. In spite of the obstacles and great danger present, Chief Boatswain Branyon carried out his missions with extreme courage and skill, setting an example to his command. His unflinching leadership resulted in an uninterrupted flow of reinforcements and supplies without which the ground troops would have been greatly hampered. The conduct of Chief Boatswain Branyon throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Contributors: Barry C #47806468; Allen Rountree #47072491; Betty McReynolds Rountree, niece.
Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on May 13, 1900, the only child of Richard Lewis Branyon and Lillian Marie Harrison. Lillian, born in Greenville County in 1878, died at age 32, when Howard was nine; he carries her maiden name. Lillian's parents were John Hampton Harrison (1840) and Nannie Latimer Harrison (1854) of South Carolina. When Howard turned 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWI and served in France in 1919. On New Year's Eve, December 31, 1934, Howard married Rilla Ida McReynolds in Carson City, Nevada. Rilla was in Hawaii with Howard on December 7, 1941 when he was stationed at Pearl Harbor on the flagship U.S.S. Pennsylvania, sister ship of the U.S.S. Arizona, and drove him to the ship when the surprise attack started. Howard survived the air attacks, helped in the rescue operations and went on to participate in several naval battles in the South Pacific, including Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross. Old Sailors never die they just return to the sea – Lt. Commander Ret. Howard H. Branyon died April 9, 1969 in Long Beach, Los Angeles, California at age 68 and was buried at sea with honors by the U.S. Navy, 10 miles out from Santa Catalina Island in the Pacific Ocean.
Howard Branyon, Navy Cross Citation, March 28, 1943, Admiral William Halsey
The President of the United States of America is pleased to the Navy Cross to Chief Boatswain Howard H. Branyon, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in action against the enemy while serving Commander of Patrol Ship YP-239, in the waters between Tulagi and Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, during the period from 1 September 1942 to 2 November 1942. Chief Boatswain Branyon was in command of a small auxiliary naval craft used in transporting essential men and supplies. His craft averaged at least one trip a day, many of the trips having been made under heavy enemy fire and at night, under the most trying circumstances. In spite of the obstacles and great danger present, Chief Boatswain Branyon carried out his missions with extreme courage and skill, setting an example to his command. His unflinching leadership resulted in an uninterrupted flow of reinforcements and supplies without which the ground troops would have been greatly hampered. The conduct of Chief Boatswain Branyon throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Contributors: Barry C #47806468; Allen Rountree #47072491; Betty McReynolds Rountree, niece.
Howard Harrison Branyon
Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on May 13, 1900, the only child of Richard Lewis Branyon and Lillian Marie Harrison. Lillian, born in Greenville County in 1878, died at age 32, when Howard was nine; he carries her maiden name. Lillian's parents were John Hampton Harrison (1840) and Nannie Latimer Harrison (1854) of South Carolina. When Howard turned 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWI and served in France in 1919. On New Year's Eve, December 31, 1934, Howard married Rilla Ida McReynolds in Carson City, Nevada. Rilla was in Hawaii with Howard on December 7, 1941 when he was stationed at Pearl Harbor on the flagship U.S.S. Pennsylvania, sister ship of the U.S.S. Arizona, and drove him to the ship when the surprise attack started. Howard survived the air attacks, helped in the rescue operations and went on to participate in several naval battles in the South Pacific, including Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross. Old Sailors never die they just return to the sea – Lt. Commander Ret. Howard H. Branyon died April 9, 1969 in Long Beach, Los Angeles, California at age 68 and was buried at sea with honors by the U.S. Navy, 10 miles out from Santa Catalina Island in the Pacific Ocean.
Howard Branyon, Navy Cross Citation, March 28, 1943, Admiral William Halsey
The President of the United States of America is pleased to the Navy Cross to Chief Boatswain Howard H. Branyon, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in action against the enemy while serving Commander of Patrol Ship YP-239, in the waters between Tulagi and Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, during the period from 1 September 1942 to 2 November 1942. Chief Boatswain Branyon was in command of a small auxiliary naval craft used in transporting essential men and supplies. His craft averaged at least one trip a day, many of the trips having been made under heavy enemy fire and at night, under the most trying circumstances. In spite of the obstacles and great danger present, Chief Boatswain Branyon carried out his missions with extreme courage and skill, setting an example to his command. His unflinching leadership resulted in an uninterrupted flow of reinforcements and supplies without which the ground troops would have been greatly hampered. The conduct of Chief Boatswain Branyon throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Contributors: Barry C #47806468; Allen Rountree #47072491; Betty McReynolds Rountree, niece.
Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on May 13, 1900, the only child of Richard Lewis Branyon and Lillian Marie Harrison. Lillian, born in Greenville County in 1878, died at age 32, when Howard was nine; he carries her maiden name. Lillian's parents were John Hampton Harrison (1840) and Nannie Latimer Harrison (1854) of South Carolina. When Howard turned 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWI and served in France in 1919. On New Year's Eve, December 31, 1934, Howard married Rilla Ida McReynolds in Carson City, Nevada. Rilla was in Hawaii with Howard on December 7, 1941 when he was stationed at Pearl Harbor on the flagship U.S.S. Pennsylvania, sister ship of the U.S.S. Arizona, and drove him to the ship when the surprise attack started. Howard survived the air attacks, helped in the rescue operations and went on to participate in several naval battles in the South Pacific, including Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross. Old Sailors never die they just return to the sea – Lt. Commander Ret. Howard H. Branyon died April 9, 1969 in Long Beach, Los Angeles, California at age 68 and was buried at sea with honors by the U.S. Navy, 10 miles out from Santa Catalina Island in the Pacific Ocean.
Howard Branyon, Navy Cross Citation, March 28, 1943, Admiral William Halsey
The President of the United States of America is pleased to the Navy Cross to Chief Boatswain Howard H. Branyon, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in action against the enemy while serving Commander of Patrol Ship YP-239, in the waters between Tulagi and Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, during the period from 1 September 1942 to 2 November 1942. Chief Boatswain Branyon was in command of a small auxiliary naval craft used in transporting essential men and supplies. His craft averaged at least one trip a day, many of the trips having been made under heavy enemy fire and at night, under the most trying circumstances. In spite of the obstacles and great danger present, Chief Boatswain Branyon carried out his missions with extreme courage and skill, setting an example to his command. His unflinching leadership resulted in an uninterrupted flow of reinforcements and supplies without which the ground troops would have been greatly hampered. The conduct of Chief Boatswain Branyon throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Contributors: Barry C #47806468; Allen Rountree #47072491; Betty McReynolds Rountree, niece.
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