Frederick L. Adams’ Navy Cross citation

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

GUNNERY SERGEANT FREDERICK LOUIS ADAMS

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Frederick Louis Adams (244223), Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the Third Tank Platoon, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, from 26 to 28 December 1943. Courageously exposing himself to severe, persistent hostile fire, Gunnery Sergeant Adams skillfully directed his tank with aggressive determination against enemy pillboxes during two days of fierce, incessant fighting. On 28 December he led his tank platoon in support of attacking Marine forces and, arriving at the front lines, dismounted and personally made an extremely hazardous reconnaissance to discover the location of hostile antitank guns. Placing his tank in the lead of his deployed platoon and bravely standing in the open turret, he accurately controlled the devastating fire of his tanks and, despite direct hits sustained by his own vehicle, successfully destroyed two antitank guns. Thereafter, he walked ahead of his platoon in the face of intense enemy machine-gun fire and pointed out targets for his tanks. Gunnery Sergeant Adams’ inspiring leadership and great personal valor contributed materially to the subsequent destruction of enemy defenses and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service