Pearl Harbor’s lesser-known Medal of Honor winner is still at his post

Peter Tomich’s Fatal Heroism Aboard the USS Utah

When Japanese torpedoes hit the USS Utah at Pearl Harbor, one man chose to stay behind. Peter Tomich, a Croatian immigrant who came to America in 1913, had spent 22 years in the Navy by December 7, 1941.

As Chief Watertender, he knew what would happen if water hit the ship’s hot boilers. While the Utah rolled to its side, Tomich sent his crew to safety but stayed at his post.

He moved from valve to valve, letting off steam as the ship tipped 40 degrees. His actions saved hundreds of men in the water, but cost him his life.

The USS Utah Memorial on Ford Island now marks where this Medal of Honor hero still rests with his ship.

From Croatian Hills to American Hero

Pete Tomich was born as Petar Herceg Tonić in Prolog, a tiny village in what’s now Bosnia-Herzegovina, on June 3, 1893.

At 19, he left home and sailed to America in 1913, moving to Los Angeles where his cousin John already lived. Like many newcomers, he changed his name to fit in, becoming Peter Tomich.

He worked hard in his new country, taking steps to become a citizen while learning English and American ways.

Army Service Opened Doors to Citizenship

Soon after America joined World War I, Tomich signed up for the U.S. Army. His military service sped up his path to becoming an American citizen, which he got in 1918 while serving.

The Army let him go with honor on January 13, 1919, after the war ended.

Tomich liked military life so much that he chose to keep serving America in uniform instead of going back to civilian jobs.

Navy Career Began Just Days After Army Discharge

Tomich quickly switched military branches. Only ten days after leaving the Army, he joined the Navy in January 1919.

He started on the destroyer USS Litchfield at the lowest rank. He showed natural skill with engineering work, mainly with steam systems that powered Navy ships.

Year after year, he moved up through hard work and technical know-how.

The Making of a Master Boiler Expert

By 1930, Tomich reached the rank of Chief Watertender, becoming a boiler operations expert. His 22 years of experience by 1941 made him one of the most skilled engineering specialists in the Pacific Fleet.

The Navy sent him to the USS Utah in October 1939, where he served as the ship’s top engineering expert. With no wife or kids, he listed his cousin John as his emergency contact on military papers.

USS Utah Changed from Battleship to Training Vessel

The USS Utah started life as a powerful Florida-class battleship in 1911.

Twenty years later, the London Naval Treaty forced the Navy to turn her into a target ship (called AG-16) in 1931. Workers took off her main guns and added anti-aircraft weapons so she could help train fleet gunners.

Wooden boards covered her deck to absorb practice bombing hits during training, giving her an odd look compared to other warships.

Sunday Morning Routine Broken by Japanese Planes

On December 7, 1941, the Utah sat tied up at Berth F-11 on the northwest side of Ford Island in Pearl Harbor.

The wooden planks on her deck fooled Japanese pilots, who thought she was an aircraft carrier because of where she was parked.

At 8:00 AM, sailors raised the American flag as part of normal morning routine when the first Japanese planes showed up overhead. Most crew members thought the planes belonged to American forces doing regular practice.

Torpedoes Hit Without Warning

The first torpedo hit Utah’s port side around 8:01 AM. Seconds later, a second torpedo struck almost the same spot, causing massive flooding below decks.

Water rushed into the hull, and the ship quickly began tipping to port.

The alarm sounded throughout the vessel, followed by the order “All hands to bombing quarters” as chaos spread across Pearl Harbor.

Tomich Makes His Brave Choice

As the ship tilted dangerously, the captain ordered everyone to move to the starboard side. Down in the boiler room, Tomich saw the coming disaster and shouted to his crew: “Get out!

Get topside! ” He made sure all his engineering staff got out first while the ship kept rolling toward its side.

Then Tomich made the choice that would cost him his life but save many others – he stayed behind.

Last Minutes Spent Stopping a Bigger Disaster

Tomich knew from past accidents that if cold seawater reached hot boilers, they would explode.

Moving carefully from valve to valve as the ship tilted 40 degrees, he released steam pressure and secured the massive boilers.

His actions stopped an explosion that would have killed hundreds of sailors swimming nearby after leaving the ship. The Utah flipped completely at 8:12 AM with Tomich still inside the engineering spaces.

A Hero Without Family to Accept His Honor

Tomich’s body never left the Utah, staying entombed with 57 other crew members who died in the attack. His sacrifice stopped far worse deaths among the survivors swimming away from the sinking ship.

When the Navy gave him the Medal of Honor after his death, they couldn’t find any living relatives to receive it.

Instead, they gave the medal to the destroyer USS Tomich in 1943, later giving it to Utah state for safekeeping.

Family Finally Receives Recognition Six Decades Later

After more than 60 years, researchers found Tomich’s family members still living in Croatia.

The Navy gave a copy of his Medal of Honor to his cousin’s grandson during a ceremony aboard the USS Enterprise when the ship visited Split, Croatia in 2006.

Today, the USS Utah remains a war grave memorial at Pearl Harbor, partially visible above water.

The Navy honors Tomich’s memory with Tomich Hall at the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, ensuring future generations remember his sacrifice.

Visiting USS Utah Memorial, Hawaii

You can visit the USS Utah Memorial through the Ford Island Bus Tour, which runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons from Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Book through Recreation.

gov for $1 (advance reservations required). The 90-minute tour takes you to both USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials at 1 Arizona Memorial Place.

The white memorial platform extends toward the sunken ship where Croatian immigrant Peter Tomich’s body remains after his heroic sacrifice preventing a boiler explosion.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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