Casimir R. Polakowski’s Navy Cross citation

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

PLATOON SERGEANT CASIMIR R. POLAKOWSKI
U.S. MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Casimir R. Polakowski (299898), Platoon Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Platoon Leader of Company L, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, on 3 January 1944. After skillfully maneuvering his unit into an advantageous position from which to assault an enemy stronghold, Platoon Sergeant Polakowski led the charge with cool determination and daring aggressiveness and accounted for several of the Japanese before he, himself, was mortally wounded within a few feet of a hostile machine gun. Platoon Sergeant Polakowski’s courage, spirit of self-sacrifice and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Born: 8 February 1921 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa…. Enlisted in October 1940… Interred: Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Hanover, Pa.