Middleport in Meigs County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Rear Admiral William W. Outerbridge

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 6, 2009

1. Rear Admiral William W. Outerbridge Marker

Inscription.
Middleport native William Outerbridge (1906-1986) initiated the first shots of American involvement in World War II at 6:37 a.m. prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Outerbridge was commander of the destroyer USS Ward, which engaged and attacked a Japanese midget submarine as it attempted to slip into Pearl Harbor at Hawaii. He reported the action and the sinking of the submarine before the attack by Japan. In 2005, the submarine was found and the shell holes in the coning tower confirmed Outerbridge's report. During WWII he went on to command the USS O'Brien, which served in support of the Normandy D-Day Landings on the beaches and at the port of Cherbourg. He then served in the Pacific theater until the end of the war supporting American efforts to take back islands from the Japanese. He later commanded the cruiser USS Los Angeles.

Erected 2009 by Middleport High School Class of 1957, Citizens of Middleport, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 21-53.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 7, 1941.

Location.

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39° 0.206′ N, 82° 2.803′ W. Marker is in Middleport, Ohio, in Meigs County. Marker is at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Walnut Street, on the right when traveling north on 1st Avenue. Marker is adjacent to the Ohio River boat access ramp. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Middleport OH 45760, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Major John B. Downing (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Ohio River / Historic Middleport (about 700 feet away); Middleport Medal of Honor Recipients (approx. ¼ mile away); General James V. Hartinger (approx. ¼ mile away); William H. Powell (approx. 0.3 miles away in West Virginia); Rear Admiral Arthur Clark (approx. 0.4 miles away); Virgil A. Lewis (approx. 1.4 miles away in West Virginia); Morgan's Raid Route / Meigs County Courthouse (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Middleport.

Also see . . .
1. Outerbridge Remarks during Congressional Investigation of Pearl Harbor Attack. (Submitted on March 11, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Outerbridge Bio. (Submitted on March 11, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Additional commentary.
1.
Mr. Outerbridge was my science teacher

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 6, 2009

2. Rear Admiral William W. Outerbridge Marker

Looking south along 1st Avenue and the Ohio River.

at Gulf Stream School in Delray Beach, Florida in the early 1970s. He was an excellent teacher and a fine man and we all cheered when he went on national television in New York to talk about Pearl Harbor when the movie "Tora Tora Tora" was released. My regret is that I never visited him in later years when he had moved to Tifton, Georgia to headmaster an academy there. Once I was grown he could have taught me so much and I would have appreciated it more than I did as a middle schooler. Thanks Mr. O!

— Submitted August 26, 2015, by William Parks of Boynton Beach, Florida.

2. "Coning tower" as used on the marker
The phrase "coning tower" on the marker is normally written as "conning tower".

— Submitted May 13, 2023.

Newspaper clipping from April 8, 1942 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lance Outerbridge

3. Newspaper clipping from April 8, 1942

From the Los Angeles Daily News.

RADM W. W. Outerbridge, USN (Ret.) image. Click for full size.

circa November 1982

4. RADM W. W. Outerbridge, USN (Ret.)

RADM W. W. Outerbridge, USN (Ret.) ca. late 1970s image. Click for full size.

5. RADM W. W. Outerbridge, USN (Ret.) ca. late 1970s

RADM Outerbridge in the center, his sister on the left and wife on the right.

Citation for RADM Outerbridge's second Silver Star. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lance Outerbridge

6. Citation for RADM Outerbridge's second Silver Star.

Cover letter for RADM Outerbridge's second Silver Star Citation image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lance Outerbridge

7. Cover letter for RADM Outerbridge's second Silver Star Citation

Note that since it covered an event during the war, it was once considered a classified document.

Endorsement to the cover letter for RADM Outerbridge's second Silver Star Citation image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lance Outerbridge

8. Endorsement to the cover letter for RADM Outerbridge's second Silver Star Citation

RADM W. W. Outerbridge's Purple Heart Citation image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lance Outerbridge

9. RADM W. W. Outerbridge's Purple Heart Citation

Cover letter and endorsement to RADM W. W. Outerbridge's Purple Heart Citation (1945) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lance Outerbridge

10. Cover letter and endorsement to RADM W. W. Outerbridge's Purple Heart Citation (1945)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 3,992 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 11, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on April 1, 2010.