- SURNAME
Ettenborough
- FORENAME
Robert Bruce
- UNIT
1st Marine Parachute Regiment
- RANK
Gunnery Sergeant
- NUMBER
243140
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
Bougainville, 9th December 1941
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
resided Bremerton, Washington
born 08.07.1917 Seattle, Washington, USA
father Levi Craig Ettenborough (1894-1974)
mother Nellie (nee Paine) Ettenborough (1899-1965)
06.06.1934 entered service
1938 discharged shortly to re-enter
06.09.1938 entered service
20.04.1943 promoted Gunnery SGT
07.09.1944 discharged
29.01.1945 entered service
09.04.1946 married Dorothy Jane (nee Spoonhoward)
2 sons
23.09.1950 WIA Korea (1st LT)
1956 promoted to Major
31.05.1965 discharged (LT Col)
died 08.10.2005
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant Robert B. Ettenborough (MCSN: 243140), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the First Marine Parachute Regiment during action against enemy Japanese forces on Bougainville, Solomon Islands, 9 December 1941. While leading one of the squads of his platoon into position, Gunnery Sergeant Ettenborough, with cool courage and complete disregard for his own personal safety, repeatedly exposed himself to heavy fire from hostile snipers and machine-gun emplacements in order to maintain control of his men in the dense underbrush. When his squad was finally pinned down by enemy fire, he boldly advanced to a point within dangerous proximity to Japanese positions and silenced two machine guns with hand grenades, thereby enabling his squad to accomplish its mission. His inspiring leadership and heroic aggressiveness were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
WEB LINKS:
• https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-36248/
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