Crescenzo P. DeMatteis’ Navy Cross citation

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

Crescenzo P. DeMatteis

Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the FIRST Parachute Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, during the assault on enemy Japanese forces at Gavutu, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. When his platoon was pinned down by fire from a hostile dugout, Corporal DeMatteis, with utter disregard for the extreme danger involved, stealthily circled the entrenchment and killed on of the enemy. Having obtained an advantageous position, he displayed outstanding accuracy and courage in destroying the dugout with hand grenades and his rifle. By his daring aggressiveness and unflinching devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death, he single-handedly attacked and eliminated a perilous obstruction to his platoon’s advance and thereby enabled his comrades to continue toward the objectives. Corporal DeMatteis’ unconquerable fighting spirit was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.