UNIT CITATION

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington
4 February, 1942
Cited in the Name of
The President of the United States
THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION REINFORCED
Under command of
Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift, U.S.M.C.

CITATION:
"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 09 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