MM-975  Historic US Navy Purple Heart, Government engraved in its original short titled case. This Sailor was one of just 50 Sailors killed during the Japanese attack on the USS Nevada at Pearl Harbor. (109 were wounded). The Nevada was the only ship to get underway on the December 7TH, 1941 attack, but was struck by a torpedo and 5 aerial bombs before being forced to beach to avoid sinking. Andres F. Mafnas was born on August 22nd, 1914 in Guam. He joined the US Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Mafnas was killed on the USS Nevada during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. He is buried at Agana Cemetery in Guam. His Type 3 Navy Purple Heart was not shipped to his family in Guam until 1947.  $3495 $SOLD$

On Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked.  While standing fast in ranks, they were interrupted by a strafing attack aimed at them by a Japanese rear gunner in a torpedo bomber passing overhead which fortunately missed all personnel.

Nevada was the first battleship to open fire at enemy planes, and she was the only ship to shoot down an aircraft with its secondary surface battery at Pearl Harbor. And on this day, luck earned Nevada a permanent berth in the annals of naval history. When in port and not tied to a pier, a battleship usually had just one boiler online to generate electricity; however, a single boiler was not enough for a battleship to get underway. Early on that fateful morning, Nevada’s officer of the deck realized the same boiler had been in use since the ship had returned to port on Dec. 5, and ordered a second boiler lit. By 8 a.m., the second boiler was at full steam. When the attack started, the senior officer present afloat (SOPA) realized that with two boilers online, Nevada had enough power to get underway. He immediately ordered the hoisting of the signals “I am preparing to get underway” and “request tug assistance.” The tugboat Hoga was dispatched to assist Nevada.

Minutes later Arizona—moored directly ahead of Nevada— blew up in a tremendous explosion and began burning furiously. At 8:10 a.m., Nevada was struck forward by a torpedo and at 8:13 a.m. was struck amidships by a bomb. At 8:25 a.m., the first wave of Japanese attackers withdrew. Realizing the danger of the burning oil on the water drifting toward Nevada, the decision was made to get underway without the tug. At 8:40 a.m., At 8:47a.m. the ship started moving forward. Nevada was underway! The effect was electrifying on the men ashore and aboard the other ships.

 The ship then successfully  headed for the channel out of the harbor. At 8:55 a.m., the arriving second wave of Japanese planes noticed Nevada underway and moved to attack her in hopes of sinking the ship in the channel and blocking it. At 9 a.m., dive bombers and torpedo bombers put Nevada under heavy attack, and within a few minutes the ship was hit by five more bombs. Nevada was burning forward and amidships and sinking by the bow. The CO ordered the ship grounded. Thus, gallant Nevada was the first (and only) battleship to get underway during the Pearl Harbor attack.