Weldon F. DeLong’s Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to

Weldon Fader DeLong

Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company K, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces west of the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 2 and 3 November 1942. After leading his squad forward in numerous assaults upon enemy positions, Corporal DeLong with two other Marines, when the advance of his company was threatened by a Japanese 37-mm. Gun firing at almost point-blank range, unhesitatingly rushed forward, seized the gun after disposing of its crew and put it out of action. Finally, in a violent bayonet assault, he advanced to the front of his unit and engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was mortally wounded. By his great personal valor, aggressive leadership and fearless devotion to duty he contributed to the complete destruction of the enemy forces in this engagement. He gallantly gave up his life in the defense of his country.