Carl R. Davidson’s Navy Cross citation

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

Carl R. Davidson

Second 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 with Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN (VMF-211), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Wake Island, during action against enemy Japanese land, surface and aerial units at Wake Island, 8 to 23 December 1941. Skilled as an airman, gallant as an officer and determined and aggressive in whatever he was assigned or voluntarily undertook to do throughout the bitter days of combat with a vastly superior enemy force, Second Lieutenant Davidson assumed a major role in maintaining morals among the officers and men imperiled with him, sustaining their spirits by his own unwavering high courage and inspiring them to greater effort by his heroic work in rescuing wounded from burning airplanes and camp areas and in reorganizing the unit following the first devastating enemy raid. Carrying out his daily tasks and his part in combat operations with initiative and fortitude during this prolonged period of siege, Second Lieutenant Davidson went up to fight two full squadrons of Japanese aircraft on 22 December, and, with only one other Marine plane for assistance, pressed home a vigorous attack against the large hostile force, diverting many enemy planes from the raid on Wake before he was shot down at sea following a fearless engagement with six Japanese fighter craft. His brilliant leadership and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death constantly inspired the stouthearted defenders of this tiny island, and his valiant conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Davidson and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.