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Contact Info
Home Town Hackettstown, New Jersey
Last Address Silver Spring, Maryland
Date of Passing Apr 06, 1996
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Note: Because this profile is done in the USAF site, some of 2nd Lt (USAAC), VAdm (USN) Bulkeley's ribbons are not correct as worn on his Navy uniform. He was also awarded the Philippine Distinguished Conduct Star that is not shown on his ribbon rack.
In 1942 he took General Douglas MacArthur, his family, and his staff on PT-41 out of Corregidor and safely through the Japanese fleet on their way to Australia.
He is buried in Arlington and also memorialized in Union Cemetery, Hackettstown, NJ and the Texas State Cemetery, Austin, TX.
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Commander John Duncan Bulkeley, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism, distinguished service, and conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty as extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer, Motor Torpedo Boat THIRTY-FOUR (PT-34), Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE (MTB-3), in Philippine waters during the period 7 December 1941 to 10 April 1942. The remarkable achievement of Lieutenant Commander Bulkeley's command in damaging or destroying a notable number of Japanese enemy planes, surface combatant and merchant ships, and in dispersing landing parties and land-based enemy forces during the four months and eight days of operation without benefit of repairs, overhaul, or maintenance facilities for his squadron, is believed to be without precedent in this type of warfare. His dynamic forcefulness and daring in offensive action, his brilliantly planned and skillfully executed attacks, supplemented by a unique resourcefulness and ingenuity, characterize him as an outstanding leader of men and a gallant and intrepid seaman. These qualities coupled with a complete disregard for his own personal safety reflect great credit upon him and the Naval Service.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Normandy Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
July / 1944
Description Normandy Campaign 6 June to 24 July 1944) Early on D-Day airborne troops landed in France to gain control of strategic areas. Aerial and naval bombardment followed. Then the invasion fleet, covered by an umbrella of aircraft, discharged Eisenhower’s assault forces. Soon the beachhead was secure, but its expansion was a slow and difficult process in the face of strong opposition. It was not until late in July that the Allies were able to break out of Normandy.
