Nathan Green Gordon

He landed under enemy fire four times to rescue lost airmen.

Nathan Green Gordon was born at Morrilton, Arkansas, on 4 September 1916. He studied at Arkansas Polytechnic College and the University of Arkansas, playing college football while preparing for a legal career. After graduating in 1939 he returned to Morrilton and joined the family law practice.

Gordon volunteered for naval aviation during the Second World War. Assigned to Patrol Squadron 34, he flew a PBY Catalina in the southwest Pacific. The flying boat, named Arkansas Traveler, could land on water to carry out patrol and rescue missions far from an airfield.

On 15 February 1944 Gordon was providing rescue coverage during an air raid against Kavieng in the Bismarck Archipelago. When American aircraft were shot down, he flew into waters within range of Japanese shore positions. He made three separate landings in heavy swells and collected nine airmen, some wounded. With the Catalina already overloaded, he took off and began the return flight.

A further report described six survivors in a raft close to the defended shore. Gordon turned back. He landed again under fire, took the men aboard and made a fourth difficult takeoff. All fifteen rescued airmen escaped death or capture. His conduct brought the Medal of Honor, adding to his other flying decorations.

Discharged in October 1945, Gordon resumed legal practice and entered Arkansas politics. Elected lieutenant governor in 1946, he won nine further terms and served from 1947 to 1967 under four governors. He then returned to full-time legal work in Morrilton, retiring in 1992. Gordon died in Little Rock on 8 September 2008 and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Morrilton. His papers and wartime objects became part of Arkansas archival and museum collections.