Malcolm M. Champlin’s Navy Cross citation

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

Malcolm McGreor Champlin

Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy (Reserve)

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the period 8 December 1941 to 11 March 1942, in the Philippine Islands. On 25 December 1941, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Champlin proceeded to Manila from Corregidor and carried out the important and very difficult mission of destroying all bulk fuel oil, Diesel oil and aviation gasoline without setting fire to the city or pumping it into the harbor, thereby displaying initiative, tact, and resourcefulness to a very high degree. On 27 December 1941, he proceeded to Sangley Point from Corregidor in charge of a party which carried out the very difficult and hazardous mission of destroying the ammunition dump at Sunset Beach (including one hundred mines whose construction was of a highly confidential nature), together with other military stores and equipment at Cavite and Sangley Point. Failure to destroy the foregoing would have resulted in very grave military consequences. Throughout the period of 8 December 1941 to 11 March 1942, in carrying out his duties as Flag Lieutenant he also carried out many other assignments on Corregidor, Bataan and Mariveles. He showed a particularly high degree of efficiency in time of stress.