John R. Himelrick’s Navy Cross citation

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

John Roberts Himelrick

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 as a Telephone Lineman in a .50 caliber Anti-aircraft Machine-Gun Battery of a Marine Detachment, FIRST Marine Defense Battalion, Naval Air Station, Wake Island, in action against enemy Japanese forces from 8 to 23 December 1941. Intrepid and steadfast in the discharge of his assigned duties during the epic defense of Wake Island, Private First Class Himelrick not only consistently exposed himself to intense enemy shellfire to maintain vital communications between his battery and the Island Command Post, but also voluntarily manned a perilous spotting post for artillery fire when the Japanese made their final desperate assault against the heroic garrison. Continuing to call down fire dangerously close to his own position upon the Japanese troops who had gained the beaches, he unhesitatingly advanced over the fire-swept terrain to a more advantageous position where he immediately engaged the attacking force with savage fury, killing approximately fifteen with his blistering rifle fire. His gallant actions, indomitable fighting spirit and unselfish devotion to duty served as an inspiration to his comrades and reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Himelrick and the United States Naval Service.