TAKR 304 Pililaau
USNS Pililaau, fifth in the Bob Hope class, was christened in New Orleans Jan. 8, 2000.
Pfc. Herbert K. Pililaau
The ship is named Pililaau to honor Army Pfc. Herbert
K. Pililaau, (1928-1951), awarded the Medal of Honor
posthumously for the valiant defense of his position near Piari,
Korea, Sept. 17, 1951. While defending a key piece of terrain
on "Heartbreak Ridge," his company held back enemy assaults
until the unit was ordered to withdraw due to a shortage of
ammunition. Voluntarily remaining behind to cover the
withdrawal, Pililaau fired his remaining automatic weapons
ammunition and grenades into the assailants, then fought hand-
to-hand with trench knife and bare fists until he was mortally
wounded. When the position was subsequently recaptured, 40 enemy
dead were found nearby. No previous ship has been named
Pililaau.
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