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Admiral Robert Lunney Receives Croatian Order For
Securing Medal of Honor For Family of Croatian
American Sailor
By Richard H. Wagner
On 26 September, the President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic, bestowed the Croatian
Order of the Trefoil on RADM Robert Lunney, NYNM, at a ceremony at the Croatian
Mission to the United Nations. The decoration recognizes Admiral Lunney’s efforts
that resulted in the family of Peter Tomich receiving the Medal of Honor that had been
awarded posthumously for Tomich’s heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor
Peter Tonic was born in Croatia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in 1893.
He immigrated to the United States and settled in Queens. In 1917, he enlisted in the
Army and fought in World War I. After the war, he joined the Navy. The Navy
misspelled his name and he became Peter Tomich.
Tomich was eventually assigned to USS UTAH. She had been commissioned as a
Florida-class Battleship in 1911 (BB 31), but was converted to a radio-controlled
target ship in 1931 (AG 16). On the morning of 7 December 1941, she was moored at
Ford Island. Although the ship was on the opposite side of the island from Battleship
Row, the Japanese viewed the piers and other facilities on that side of the island as
important because they could be used to moor an aircraft carrier or a battleship.
Accordingly, they sought to sink the ships tied-up there thus rendering the piers
useless. UTAH received two torpedo hits and capsized within ten minutes. Tomich,
who was Chief Watertender and in charge of the engine room, remained there until the
boilers were secured and all the crewmen were gone. However, by that time it was
too late for Tomich to escape.
The ship was partially righted in 1944 and moved closer to Ford Island so as to be out
of the shipping lane. It remains there today a memorial with approximately 60
crewmen including Tomich still onboard.
For his actions, Tomich was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1942.
However, the Navy was unable to locate Tomich’s next-of-kin and so Tomich’s medal
became the only Medal of Honor in the last 100 years never presented to a recipient or
surviving relative. His medal led a nomadic existence, being displayed at various
museums and exhibits.
Then Bob Lunney heard of this state of affairs and decided to take action “to
recognize a true Naval hero, a Croatian American, who sacrificed his life to save many
of his shipmates. In addition, I wanted this presentation to further amicable relations
between our nation and the Croatian people.” He conducted an extensive investigation
to identify the next of kin, even traveling to Croatia and battling the Navy in a federal
court case. Finally, Lunney, with the help of RADM Robert A. Rosen, Commander,
NY Naval Militia and Naval Aide to the N.Y. Governor, prevailed and the Navy
dispatched USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) to Split, Croatia for the presentation.
In presenting the Order of the Trefold to Admiral Lunney, President Mesic
commented “This is also an opportunity for us to remember the Second World War, a
large-scale, global fight for freedom of individuals and peoples, for free development of
countries, for democracy and equality. And we should not forget that this is an
opportunity to remember the war alliance forged in this fight, the alliance which
represents one of the cornerstones of the Croatian-American friendship.”
Admiral Lunney responded: “The reason we accept awards is to invigorate others to
do good, as individuals, groups and whole countries. If we calculate the contributions
of Croatian Americans then the size of Croatia does not matter as witnessed by the
valor of Peter Tomich. Our friendship with Croatia should grow on the basis of
honorable history - - a history of shared values - values that are universal and destined
to radiate throughout the world. Our two nations have been and will be true allies.”
Securing Medal of Honor For Family of Croatian
American Sailor
By Richard H. Wagner
On 26 September, the President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic, bestowed the Croatian
Order of the Trefoil on RADM Robert Lunney, NYNM, at a ceremony at the Croatian
Mission to the United Nations. The decoration recognizes Admiral Lunney’s efforts
that resulted in the family of Peter Tomich receiving the Medal of Honor that had been
awarded posthumously for Tomich’s heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor
Peter Tonic was born in Croatia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in 1893.
He immigrated to the United States and settled in Queens. In 1917, he enlisted in the
Army and fought in World War I. After the war, he joined the Navy. The Navy
misspelled his name and he became Peter Tomich.
Tomich was eventually assigned to USS UTAH. She had been commissioned as a
Florida-class Battleship in 1911 (BB 31), but was converted to a radio-controlled
target ship in 1931 (AG 16). On the morning of 7 December 1941, she was moored at
Ford Island. Although the ship was on the opposite side of the island from Battleship
Row, the Japanese viewed the piers and other facilities on that side of the island as
important because they could be used to moor an aircraft carrier or a battleship.
Accordingly, they sought to sink the ships tied-up there thus rendering the piers
useless. UTAH received two torpedo hits and capsized within ten minutes. Tomich,
who was Chief Watertender and in charge of the engine room, remained there until the
boilers were secured and all the crewmen were gone. However, by that time it was
too late for Tomich to escape.
The ship was partially righted in 1944 and moved closer to Ford Island so as to be out
of the shipping lane. It remains there today a memorial with approximately 60
crewmen including Tomich still onboard.
For his actions, Tomich was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1942.
However, the Navy was unable to locate Tomich’s next-of-kin and so Tomich’s medal
became the only Medal of Honor in the last 100 years never presented to a recipient or
surviving relative. His medal led a nomadic existence, being displayed at various
museums and exhibits.
Then Bob Lunney heard of this state of affairs and decided to take action “to
recognize a true Naval hero, a Croatian American, who sacrificed his life to save many
of his shipmates. In addition, I wanted this presentation to further amicable relations
between our nation and the Croatian people.” He conducted an extensive investigation
to identify the next of kin, even traveling to Croatia and battling the Navy in a federal
court case. Finally, Lunney, with the help of RADM Robert A. Rosen, Commander,
NY Naval Militia and Naval Aide to the N.Y. Governor, prevailed and the Navy
dispatched USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) to Split, Croatia for the presentation.
In presenting the Order of the Trefold to Admiral Lunney, President Mesic
commented “This is also an opportunity for us to remember the Second World War, a
large-scale, global fight for freedom of individuals and peoples, for free development of
countries, for democracy and equality. And we should not forget that this is an
opportunity to remember the war alliance forged in this fight, the alliance which
represents one of the cornerstones of the Croatian-American friendship.”
Admiral Lunney responded: “The reason we accept awards is to invigorate others to
do good, as individuals, groups and whole countries. If we calculate the contributions
of Croatian Americans then the size of Croatia does not matter as witnessed by the
valor of Peter Tomich. Our friendship with Croatia should grow on the basis of
honorable history - - a history of shared values - values that are universal and destined
to radiate throughout the world. Our two nations have been and will be true allies.”
