Medal Honor - WWII -
MGen Merritt Edson
Colonel Merritt Austin Edson (MCSN: 0-257), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the FIRST Marine Raider Battalion, with Parachute Battalion attached, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on the night of 13 and 14 September 1942
Details behind Award: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the FIRST MARINE DIVISION
For service as follows: Under command of Major General Alexander A. Vandergrift, USMC Citation: "The officers and enlisted men of the First Marine Division, Reinforced, from August 7 to December 9, 1942, demonstrated outstanding gallantry and determination in successfully executing forced landings assaults against a number of strongly defended Japanese positions on Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo, Florida and Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands, completely routing all the enemy forces and seizing a most valuable base and airfield within the enemy zone of operations in the South Pacific Ocean. During the above period this Reinforced Division not only held their important strategic positions despite determined and repeated Japanese naval, air and land attacks, but by a series of offensive operations against strong enemy resistance drove the Japanese from the proximity of the airfield and inflicted great losses on them by land and air attacks. The courage and determination displayed in these operations were of an inspiring order."
For the President, Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy
Last Updated: Oct 13, 2017
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