Jack E. Conger’s Navy Cross citation

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

Jack E. Conger

First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE (VMF-212), Marine Air Group TWENTY-THREE (MAG-23), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces over Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, from 16 October 1942 to 7 November 1942. Throughout that strenuous period when the island airfield was under constant bombardment and our precarious ground positions were menaced by the desperate thrusts of a fanatical foe, First Lieutenant Conger repeatedly strafed enemy ships and shore establishments and intercepted persistent bombing flights. With bold determination and courageous disregard of personal safety, he pressed home numerous attacks against heavily escorted waves of invading bombers and, in five vigorous fights against tremendous odds, shot down a total of eight Japanese aircraft. Undeterred by the exhaustion of his ammunition at the height of one engagement, he successfully rammed a hostile plane and sent it crashing into the sea. His superb flying skill and dauntless initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.