"The officers and enlisted men of the First Marine Division, Reinforced, on August 7 to 9, 1942, demonstrated outstanding gallantry and determination in successfully executing forced landing assaults against a number of strongly defended Japanese positions on Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo, Florida and Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands, completely routing all the enemy forces and seizing a most valuable base and airfield within the enemy zone of operations in the South Pacific Ocean. From the above period until 9 December, 1942, this Reinforced Division not only held their important strategic positions despite determined and repeated Japanese naval, air and land attacks, but by a series of offensive operations against strong enemy resistance drove the Japanese from the proximity of the airfield and inflicted great losses on them by land and air attacks. The courage and determination displayed in these operations were of an inspiring order."
Frank Knox
Secretary of the Navy.
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Subject: Aviation units covered by Presidential Unit Citation of First Marine Division, Reinforced.
6. The information on Navy units involved will be forwarded to you as soon as it is furnished by Editorial Research Unit DCNO (Air).
WARREN H. GOODMAN Captain, U.S.M.C.R.
Attached to and serving with VMD-154, FMAW, when that organization was a part of the Presidential Unit Citation in accordance with Navy Department General Order No. 222.
J. R. Christensen Lt. Col., USMC
Service Record Book William Earl Bauer
Battles, engagements, skirmishes, expeditions:
13 Nov 42 to 9 Dec 42 participated in the capture and defense of Guadalcanal, B.S.I.
Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps Emil Fredrick Naschinski