Press Releases

Yesterday, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) presented a Pearl Harbor Survivors Medal to Hazel Baron, the widow of U.S. Navy Veteran George Baron. The presentation took place at Calvary Baptist Church in Gobles. The event included approximately 50 guests in attendance including family, friends, and fellow churchgoers of Mrs. Baron.

“It was an honor to present this medal to Hazel in recognition and remembrance of her husband’s dedicated service to our nation,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “As the son of a WWII veteran, it was heartwarming to hear Hazel’s story of how she met George, how they wrote letters to one another during the war, and their life together both during and after George’s service in the Navy.”

In 1991, Congress authorized this commemorative medal "for those present in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, and who participated in combat operations that day against Japanese military forces attacking Hawaii."

Mr. Baron served on active duty in the Navy from 1938-1950 and in the Navy Reserves from 1960-1972. He was stationed aboard the USS Argonne, which was docked at a repair dock in Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack.

George served as a firefighter aboard the ship. The Argonne was not struck in the attack, but there are reports of machine guns being fired from the Argonne and striking down an enemy plane.

The crew from the Argonne is also credited with rescuing wounded men from other ships and working to repair additional ships.