Joseph L. Brandon’s Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY CROSS to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS

JOSEPH L. BRANDON, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Joseph L. Brandon (MCSN: 288544), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession displayed on the occasion of the crashing and burning of the airplane SB2 U-3 on the night of 20 October 1941. Second Lieutenant William W. Dean, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve with Private First Class Brandon as gunner and passenger, took off on a routine night flight and crashed shortly after. Lieutenant Dean was knocked unconscious. The plane immediately burst into flames and burned. Private Brandon, although severely burned, extricated himself from the rear cockpit and without regard for his own safety went back into the flames and freed Lieutenant Dean from the wreckage before the gasoline tanks blew up. Private Brandon’s action on this occasion was above and beyond the call of duty and reflects great credit upon the Naval Service.