Guiseppe Guilano Jr. Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to

GUNNERY SERGEANT GUISEPPE GUILANO, JR.

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sergeant Guiseppe Guilano, Jr. (MCSN: 258163), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as Gunnery Sergeant of a Machine-Gun Platoon in Company H, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces near the village of Sumeru on the Japanese-held island of new Britain, on 30 December 1943. Determined and aggressive in meeting repeated hostile attacks on our defensive lines in the vicinity of Sumeru Village, gunnery Sergeant Guilano unhesitatingly charged a gun position captured by the enemy and, firing steadily from a machine gun carried in his arms as he advanced, forced the Japanese from their seized emplacement and resolutely manned the recaptured automatic weapon until relieved by another gunner. Later, when his platoon leader was killed by hostile fire, he immediately assumed command and reorganized the unit, skillfully directing its fire and aiding materially in the repulse and annihilation of the enemy assault force. Although suffering from multiple wounds inflicted by Japanese hand grenades during the action, Gunnery Sergeant Guilano remained steadfast at his post throughout the fierce engagement and, by his daring initiative and unwavering devotion to duty, inspired not only his own platoon but infantry troops in the vicinity to heroic efforts which resulted in the destruction of over one hundred and twenty Japanese. His exceptional gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.