Harold White

Herold White was born in Darlingtcn County on November 29, 1914, the son of Lawrence B. White and Anna Traywick White. During his early childhood he lived with his parents in Florence for a short while and then moved to Timmonsville where Harold started to attend school. In 1926 his family moved back to Florence where he entered and finished the graded school and attended Florence High School for two years. He then went to Gordon Military School at Barnesville, Georgia, finishing there in the year 1933.

In the fall of that year he entered Vanderbilt University, completing the regular collegiate course in 1997, and in the following session he returned to Vanderbilt for a year's postgraduate work while serving as assistant line coach of the Vanderbilt freshman football team. This was the school year 1937-38.  The following year, having completed his scholastic work, he returned to Florence for a brief period during which he was engaged in business as a bond salesman and for two years assisted in the coaching of the Florence High School football team. During this brief interval, the name of "Nig" White, as he was affectionately known to football fans and to virtually all of his acquaintances, became inseparably linked with the best traditions of Florence High School athletics. His attractive personality, sincerity and friendly disnosition called forth the best efforts of the boys on the team and endeared him to fans and the general public with whom he came in contact.

In 1940, with war clouds hanging darkly over Lnerica, it was only natural that one of his spirit, robust health and manhood should anticipate the call of duty, and he enlisted in the United States Navy on December ll, a full year before the entry of this country into the war. After three months service, he accepted appointment as an aviation cadet and began his training at the United States Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. He was commissioned an Fmsign as of October 18, 1941. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, therefore, he had already completed his training, was in active duty as a pilot attached to the Aircraft Carrier "Hornet", and immediately upon the opening of hostilities found himself engaged in the most active theatre of war. He was appointed Lieutenant (-LG.) to rank from October 1, 1942-

His service record is one in which his family and friends and the entire community are justified in feeling the most genuine pride. According to the official records, while serving as a pilot of a carrier-based bomber in the Pacific, he took part in twenty-eight naval engagements and in four major battles, the latter, namely, the Battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, the Solomons and Santa Cruz. He was on the "Hornet", having Just landed his plane on return from a mission during the Battle of Santa Cruz when that famous ship went down. His association with, although he did not actively participate in, the most spectacular event of the war to date, is a matter of record through the frequent reference to "Nig" by his friend and bunk mate, Ted Lawson, in his "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo". For those who may not have had the good fortune of learning his personality first-hand, an interesting commentary on his nature and characteristics can be derived from the reference to him in that book. The brief comments throw interesting and revealing sidelights on his character and disposition in the discharge of the routine duties of active service in time of war. 

Following this period of extremely active service, he was among a group of fliers, the others of whom like himself had been engaged in some of the most strenuous and nerve-shattering activity of the war, who by the direct order of Admiral Halsey shortly after he assumed command in the Pacific Area were returned to the United States with specific insturctions that they be shown every consideration and given the best attention available on their return voyage and upon arrival in this country. After leave, during which it was the privilege of his friends in Florence to enjoy again association vith the same warm friendly personality, and after one or two further tours of duty which were uneventful, he was assigned to the Norfolk Naval Base for the purpose of instruction.

In one of the curious twists of fate, having survived the inconceivable hazards of the numerous engagements in actual combat and the risks of repeated take-offs from and landings upon a tossing aircraft carrier, he lost his life in an accidental crash of his plane near Norfolk on August 15, 1943.  

It was for conduct in the Battle of Midway, where the supremacy of the United States Navy over that of the Japanese first began to be evident, that "Nig" was awarded the Navy Cross with a Citation which, by its simple statement of facts, reflects far better than any adjectives which might be used here, the genuine manhood, the devotion to duty and the unalloyed courage of "Nig" White. According to the Citation, the Navy Cross was awarded "For extraordinary heroism and outstanding devotion to duty as a pilot in Scouting Squadron EIGHT in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of Midway on June 6, 1942.  With utter disregard for his own personal safety and in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, Ensign White participated in determined and effective bombing and strafing attacks on fleeing enemy Japanese forces, obtaining a successful hit on one of the enemy cruisers. His courageous action on this occasion contributed materially to the success obtained by our forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."