Walter J. Bodt’s Navy Cross citation

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

Walter James Bodt

Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving with Company C, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 9 October 1942. When the first and third platoons had become separated from the rest of the company while fighting west of the Matanikau River, Corporal Bodt, despite the fact that he was dangerously exposed to hostile fire on the crest of a hill, dared to signal the remainder of the company so that our mortar and machine-gun fire could be brought to bear upon the Japanese with effective results. Although he was wounded twice in the course of the engagement and lost the sight of one eye, he carried on with courageous disregard for his own personal safety until his company was able to inflict heavy casualties upon the enemy and thereby save the lives of many of his comrades who otherwise might have perished. with his plane damaged beyond repair, he effected a safe landing on the water and both he and his gunner were afloat two days before being rescued. His courage, determination, and utter disregard for personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.