WW2 Navy Cross Recipient
Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Leo M. Gagnon (281567), Private, U.S. Marine Corps, 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. Courageously disregarding the extreme personal danger involved, Private Gagnon unhesitatingly engaged three of the enemy in perilous hand-to-hand combat and fought with such tenacious determination that, although outnumbered, he was able to kill one of them. When one of the remaining two, who had taken to flight, threw a grenade at him, Private Gagnon alertly seized the bomb, tossed it back and immediately killed the Japanese, while he himself was shot and mortally wounded by the remaining enemy. Private Gagnon's valiant fighting spirit and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. SPOT AWARD, Commander, South Pacific: Serial 1113 (SofN Signed December 4, 1943) Born: at Boston, Massachusetts Home Town: Miami, Florida
Casualty Date Aug 07, 1942
Hostile, Died Reason
Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location
Solomon Islands Conflict
World War II */World War II
Location of Interment
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - Honolulu, Hawaii Wall Coordinates
Plot C Row 1 Grave 493
Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Leo M. Gagnon (281567), Private, U.S. Marine Corps, 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. Courageously disregarding the extreme personal danger involved, Private Gagnon unhesitatingly engaged three of the enemy in perilous hand-to-hand combat and fought with such tenacious determination that, although outnumbered, he was able to kill one of them. When one of the remaining two, who had taken to flight, threw a grenade at him, Private Gagnon alertly seized the bomb, tossed it back and immediately killed the Japanese, while he himself was shot and mortally wounded by the remaining enemy. Private Gagnon's valiant fighting spirit and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. SPOT AWARD, Commander, South Pacific: Serial 1113 (SofN Signed December 4, 1943) Born: at Boston, Massachusetts Home Town: Miami, Florida
Casualty Date Aug 07, 1942
Hostile, Died Reason
Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location
Solomon Islands Conflict
World War II */World War II
Location of Interment
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - Honolulu, Hawaii Wall Coordinates
Plot C Row 1 Grave 493
WW2 Navy Cross Recipient
Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Leo M. Gagnon (281567), Private, U.S. Marine Corps, 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. Courageously disregarding the extreme personal danger involved, Private Gagnon unhesitatingly engaged three of the enemy in perilous hand-to-hand combat and fought with such tenacious determination that, although outnumbered, he was able to kill one of them. When one of the remaining two, who had taken to flight, threw a grenade at him, Private Gagnon alertly seized the bomb, tossed it back and immediately killed the Japanese, while he himself was shot and mortally wounded by the remaining enemy. Private Gagnon's valiant fighting spirit and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. SPOT AWARD, Commander, South Pacific: Serial 1113 (SofN Signed December 4, 1943) Born: at Boston, Massachusetts Home Town: Miami, Florida
Casualty Date Aug 07, 1942
Hostile, Died Reason
Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location
Solomon Islands Conflict
World War II */World War II
Location of Interment
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - Honolulu, Hawaii Wall Coordinates
Plot C Row 1 Grave 493
Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Leo M. Gagnon (281567), Private, U.S. Marine Corps, 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. Courageously disregarding the extreme personal danger involved, Private Gagnon unhesitatingly engaged three of the enemy in perilous hand-to-hand combat and fought with such tenacious determination that, although outnumbered, he was able to kill one of them. When one of the remaining two, who had taken to flight, threw a grenade at him, Private Gagnon alertly seized the bomb, tossed it back and immediately killed the Japanese, while he himself was shot and mortally wounded by the remaining enemy. Private Gagnon's valiant fighting spirit and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. SPOT AWARD, Commander, South Pacific: Serial 1113 (SofN Signed December 4, 1943) Born: at Boston, Massachusetts Home Town: Miami, Florida
Casualty Date Aug 07, 1942
Hostile, Died Reason
Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location
Solomon Islands Conflict
World War II */World War II
Location of Interment
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - Honolulu, Hawaii Wall Coordinates
Plot C Row 1 Grave 493
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Florida.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
