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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Edson, Merritt Austin "Red Mike" |
| Date of birth: | April 25th, 1897 (Chester/Vermont, United States)
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| Date of death: |
August 14th, 1955 (Washington, D.C., United States)
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| Buried on: |
Arlington National Cemetery |
| Nationality: |
American |
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NAVY CROSS
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Rank:
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Colonel
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Unit:
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Commanding Officer 1st Marine Raider Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps
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Action:
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The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Merritt Austin Edson (0-257), Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as Commanding Officer of the Tulagi Combat Group during the landing assault and seizure of enemy Japanese-held Tulagi Island, British Solomon Islands, 7 to 9 August 1942. In personal command of the FIRST Marine Raider Battalion during the initial operation, Colonel Edson advanced the attack of his Battalion and its supporting units with suck skill, courage and aggressiveness that he was an inspiration to the entire Combat Group and was directly responsible for the capture of Tulagi Island. His gallant conduct throughout this hazardous action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Details:
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Board Serial: 1113 (25 February 1944).
This award was obtained in the form of an Gold Star to be attached on the ribbon of the first award.
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MEDAL OF HONOR - NAVY/MARINE CORPS (MOH)
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Rank:
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Colonel
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Unit:
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Commanding Officer 1st Marine Raider Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps
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Action:
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Rank and organization: Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 25 April 1897, Rutland, Vt. Appointed from: Vermont. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross with Gold Star, Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit with Gold Star. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, with Parachute Battalion attached, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on the night of 13 - 14 September 1942. After the airfield on Guadalcanal had been seized from the enemy on 8 August, Col. Edson, with a force of 800 men, was assigned to the occupation and defense of a ridge dominating the jungle on either side of the airport. Facing a formidable Japanese attack which, augmented by infiltration, had crashed through our front lines, he, by skillful handling of his troops, successfully withdrew his forward units to a reserve line with minimum casualties. When the enemy, in a subsequent series of violent assaults, engaged our force in desperate hand-to-hand combat with bayonets, rifles, pistols, grenades, and knives, Col. Edson, although continuously exposed to hostile fire throughout the night, personally directed defense of the reserve position against a fanatical foe of greatly superior numbers. By his astute leadership and gallant devotion to duty, he enabled his men, despite severe losses, to cling tenaciously to their position on the vital ridge, thereby retaining command not only of the Guadalcanal airfield, but also of the 1st Division's entire offensive installations in the surrounding area.
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DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (DSO)
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Rank:
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Brigadier General (Brigadier)
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Unit:
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Assistant Division Commander 2nd Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps
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Action:
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For his part in the retaking of the Tarawa atoll.
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Provide alterations or additional information |
| Picture source: |
- Home of Heroes |
| Information source(s): |
- Recipients of The Navy Cross, 1916 - Present, by
C. Douglas Sterner
- Jordan, Kenneth N., Yesterday’s Heroes – 433 men of World War II awarded the Medal of Honor 1941-1945, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., USA, 1996
- Clark, G.B., United States Marine Corps Generals of World War II – A Biographical Dictionary, McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina, USA, 2008
- Wikipedia.org
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