Michael P. Fedorak’s Navy Cross citation

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

Michael P. Fedorak

Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company A, FIRST Marine Raider Battalion in action against enemy Japanese forces near the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 8 October 8 – 9, 1942. When hostile forces attacked the position of his company along the mouth of the Matanikau River, Private First Class Fedorak, with cool courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety, manned a light machine gun by himself, reversed the gun’s position and engaged the enemy until his weapon jammed. Having halted the first assault and killed approximately fifteen Japanese, he calmly removed the back plate from his gun and withdrew. His gallant devotion to duty contributed materially to our cause and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.