Arthur J. Atwood’s Navy Cross citation

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

Arthur James Atwood

Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty as a member of a Rifle Company of the Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese armed forces at the Tenaru River, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 21 August 1942. Performing patrol duty and armed only with a rifle when an overwhelming Japanese landing force launched a furious attack, Private First Class Atwood, together with two other Marines, promptly deployed and held off the enemy in their sector by fierce and desperate fighting. Valiantly carrying on in spite of terrific odds, he maintained his unyielding defense of our position until he was killed in this action. His dauntless spirit of self-sacrifice and his unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great peril sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave up his life for his country.