Leo B. Case’s Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY CROSS to

Leo B. Case

First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as Platoon Leader of the Second Platoon, Company A, First Tank Battalion, while attached to the Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during the initial stages of the tank action against enemy Japanese forces along the Tenaru River, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the afternoon of 21 August 1942. When his command tank became stalled in a ditch while surrounded by hostile troops, First Lieutenant Case, heedless of the grave danger of exposure to enemy fire, climbed out of the turret, dropped to the ground and attached the towing cable of another tank to his own so that it might be hauled back into service. His cool courage and complete disregard of personal safety undoubtedly saved the lives of his crew, kept his tank in action, and enabled him to continue command of his platoon on its mission of destruction of Japanese personnel, machine-gun and mortar positions. First Lieutenant Case’s initiative and great personal valor under extremely hazardous conditions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.