MMI marks anniversary of graduate who fired first defensive shots at Pearl Harbor

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor leading to World War Two and the man who fired the first defensive shots at the infamous incident was a graduate of Marion Military Institute (MMI). 

William W. Outerbridge was born in Hong Kong and later attended MMI where he graduated in 1923. Afterwards he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1927.

By the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor he was in command of the U.S.S. Ward. There they detected and sank a Japanese two-man midget submarine during the battle. This was credited as the first defensive shots of the ensuing war. 

According to MMI he went on to take part in campaigns in the Pacific and the Atlantic, including Normandy and Cherbourg, France, and at Ormoc, Mindoro, Lingayon Gulf and Okinawa.

"He also participated in the carrier task force strikes against Tokyo and the Japanese mainland," said an online statement from MMI.

After the war he attended and then later taught at the Naval War College as well as the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He retired as a rear admiral in 1957 and died in 1986. 

"Today, we salute his bravery and commitment," said MMI's statement.