EPISODE · Jul 16, 2026 · 10 MIN
Francis C. Flaherty: The Ensign Who Stayed in the Dark
from Beyond the Call: Medal of Honor Stories · host Dr. Jason Edwards
Some acts of courage happen far from any spotlight. In this week’s Beyond the Call feature from Dispatch: U.S. Military History Magazine, developed by Trackpads.com, we share the story of Ensign Francis Charles Flaherty, a twenty-two-year-old Naval Reserve officer aboard USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor who chose to stand fast in a capsizing turret, holding a single flashlight so his men could find their way out. From his roots in Charlotte, Michigan, to the chaos of the attack and the decades-long journey to bring his remains home, his story is a powerful reminder of what it means to put your shipmates first when everything is falling apart. Read the full Beyond the Call article and then hear the companion podcast episode to follow his path from Battleship Row to a final resting place back home.
What this episode covers
Some acts of courage happen far from any spotlight. In this week’s Beyond the Call feature from Dispatch: U.S. Military History Magazine, developed by Trackpads.com, we share the story of Ensign Francis Charles Flaherty, a twenty-two-year-old Naval Reserve officer aboard USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor who chose to stand fast in a capsizing turret, holding a single flashlight so his men could find their way out. From his roots in Charlotte, Michigan, to the chaos of the attack and the decades-long journey to bring his remains home, his story is a powerful reminder of what it means to put your shipmates first when everything is falling apart. Read the full Beyond the Call article and then hear the companion podcast episode to follow his path from Battleship Row to a final resting place back home.
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Francis C. Flaherty: The Ensign Who Stayed in the Dark
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