Harold L. Louth’s Navy Cross citation

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

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HAROLD LEWIS LOUTH,
U.S. MARINE CORPS (RESERVE)

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Harold Lewis Louth (461231), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the FIRST Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces at Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island, on 28 December 1943. Following a tank in a determined assault on a hostile pillbox, Private First Class Louth observed his sergeant in peril of being killed by heavy machine-gun fire from the enemy emplacement and rushed forward to throw himself immediately in front of his comrade, thereby drawing the fire of the enemy gun to himself and saving his sergeant’s life. By his self-sacrificing action, he enabled his sergeant to attack and demolish the Japanese pillbox with hand grenades. Private First Class Louth’s exceptional valor and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of certain death were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Born: 9 September 1921 in Akron, Ohio… Interred: Spencerville, Ohio