Lawrence Baldinus’ Navy Cross citation

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

Lawrence Baldinus

Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO (VMSB-232), Marine Air Group TWENTY-THREE (MAG-23), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in action attacking enemy Japanese surface vessels in the Guadalcanal Area of the Solomon Islands on 25 and 28 August 1942. Making a direct hit with a five hundred pound bomb on a “Jintsu” class light cruiser heading toward Guadalcanal, Second Lieutenant Baldinus, by his extremely accurate aim, left the enemy vessel blazing amidships and rocked by internal explosions. Ten minutes later the pilot of another attacking plane failed to locate even its smoking hull. On 28 August Second Lieutenant Baldinus, sighting four Japanese destroyers near the north outlet of the Indispensable Straits, skillfully and courageously launched an attack, hitting one of the ships. Badly damaged and completely out of control, the destroyer sank a short time later. Second Lieutenant Baldinus’ great personal valor and expert airmanship were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.