TSOs are Heroes, Says Medal of Honor Recipient
News & Happenings
June 5, 2007
John Finn, the oldest living Congressional
Medal of Honor winner.
Photo by Wade Spees/The Post and Courier
By Tom Harness
Lead TSO, Charleston (S.C.) International Airport, and chair, TSO Advisory Council Operations Committee, National Advisory Council
The highlight of Memorial Day Weekend, on May 24, came after my shift when I noticed my AFSD at curbside helping a man in a wheelchair. I asked to be of assistance and, joined by my security manager, we were soon taking the couple through airport security.
The man turned out to be the oldest living Congressional Medal of Honor winner. His name is John Finn. He was among 42 (of 110 surviving) recipients hosted over the weekend by my city, home of the National Congressional Medal of Honor Museum aboard the docked USS Yorktown.
Finn received his medal for valor on December 7, 1941. Yes, Pearl Harbor. This hero still has shrapnel in his body from wounds he received in that battle. He will be 98 soon.
I wheeled him to the checkpoint and personally screened him in our private screening area. There, I gave him a full-body pat down. He pointed out, and I felt, the shrapnel left in his leg from that battle of so long ago. I can't really describe what I felt, to know what he did to receive those war wounds.
After clearing the checkpoint, I wheeled him down to his gate. I reached out to shake his hand, thanked him for his service to our country, and remarked on his heroism.
He looked up at me and said something I will never forget, "No, thank you. Thank you for your service to this country and what you are doing to protect our country in these days and times. For that you are a hero."
With that he took out the Congressional Medal of Honor and gave it to me to hold. I held his medal in my trembling hands. To know that he received this highest of honors more than 60 years ago, for doing an act of pure selflessness, was almost more than I could handle.
He showed me the back where it was inscribed with his citation. Only a few of these types were ever made he told me. He then told me to keep up the good work, to continue to protect this country and then he reached out to shake my hand and to thank me again.
I came home and told my wife this story. She showed me the front page of our paper. On it was Mr. Finn, standing at attention during the national anthem. I cried. This man fought one war so long ago, and now I am (we are) fighting another kind of war. I am resolved to continue this fight, because of men like Mr. Finn.
