World War II hero and former Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Nathan Green Gordon has died at age 92.

Family members say Gordon, who received the Medal of Honor for rescuing 15 downed airmen under enemy fire in the Pacific Theater, died Monday night shortly before midnight at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences after suffering from pneumonia.

During the war, Gordon flew a Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat, a large plane no faster than an high-powered automobile. On February 15, 1944, he received orders to search for downed pilots after a raid on the Japanese position in Kavieng along the Bismarck Sea near Papua New Guinea.

Under fire in rough seas, Gordon piloted the unwieldy aircraft to make three separate landings to pick up nine men. On the way back, he saw a life raft only 600 yards from the enemy shoreline. Gordon landed yet again, pulling six more airmen aboard while taking on heavy fire.

Gordon never thought he'd be nominated for the nation's highest military honor. His superiors cited him for "exceptional daring, personal valor and incomparable airmanship under most perilous conditions."

Gordon also received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the Pacific.

On his return to Arkansas, friends persuaded him to run for lieutenant governor. The Democrat entered office in 1947 and held the position for 20 years, serving under Governor Orval Faubus during the 1957 Little Rock Central High School desegregation crisis.

Gordon left office in 1967, the same year as Faubus, and returned to practicing law.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)