Carmen Delia’s Navy Cross citation

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

Carmen Delia

Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the FIRST Parachute Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, during the assault on enemy Japanese forces at Gavutu, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. In spite of great odds, Corporal Delia, on his own courageous initiative, placed his life in imminent danger as he launched a lone attack against a hostile dugout from which eight of the enemy delivered such intense fire that advancing Marines were in extreme peril and the coordinated progress of our troops was retarded. Locked in desperate hand-to-hand combat, he fought valiantly and, although seriously wounded by rifle fire and bayonets during the action, he persevered until he killed the Japanese and destroyed their position. Corporal Delia’s unyielding devotion to duty and his gallant fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.