Clarence L. Evans’ Navy Cross citation

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

Clarence Lee Evans

Private, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company A, First Battalion, Eighth Marines (Reinforced), SECOND Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces at Guadalcanal, Solomon Island, on 23 November 1942. Knowing that it was impossible for his comrades to advance as long as two enemy machine guns which were holding a commanding position remained in action, Private First Class Evans with two other Marines volunteered to dislodge these guns. Fighting his way through a hail of enemy bullets up to a position where he could throw hand grenades into the hostile machine-gun nest, he killed three Japanese and assisted in capturing the gun. From this position, he threw more grenades at the second emplacement and silenced that gun. Two days later, while continuing his dauntless fight against the enemy, he was killed by a burst of machine-gun fire. His inspired acts of valor, in the face of almost certain death, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country.