Located at the Little Rock National Cemetery is a group marker for the following 5 men stationed on “Queen of the Seas” U.S.S. Maryland. These men were killed along with another 12 men at the Battle of Okinawa on April 7, 1945.
- C.H. Chambers
- Eugene W. Gates
- James D. Harrington
- Leslie G. Langford
- Jack E. Medaris
Their captain, J.N. Wilson, U.S.N., recommended them for the bronze star. The citation reads:
For distinguishing himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity in action as a member of a twenty
millimeter gun crew on the U.S.S. Maryland during action against a Japanese Aircraft on April 7, 1945. By
his incentive, energy and devotion to duty, and in the face of practically certain death, he kept his gun firing until the attacking plane crashed on his station. His conduct throughout distinguished him among those performing duties of the same character and was in accord with the best traditions of the U.S. Naval
Service.
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