William Barnes’ Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to

William Barnes

Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the FIRST Marine Raider Battalion, during combat actions against enemy Japanese forces on Lunga Ridge, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the night of September 13 and 14, 1942. While the battalion was being subjected to ferocious assaults by the enemy and in spite of a change in position, Private First Class Barnes, serving as gunner in a mortar section, kept up an accurate and almost continuous fire against the advancing Japanese. With utter disregard for his own personal safety, he courageously assisted in the evacuation of the wounded and the carrying of ammunition to the front line units. In the closing hours of the battle he voluntarily joined these units and ably assisted them in attempting the assaults until injured by enemy grenades. His cool courage, devotion to duty, and indomitable fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.