PARAMARINES Fordyce, Ralph William

Craig Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Fordyce
  • FORENAME
Ralph William
  • UNIT
1 Marine Parachute Regiment
  • RANK
Corporal
  • NUMBER
270424
  • AWARD
Navy Cross
  • PLACE
Gavutu, Solomon Islands, 7th August 1942
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 05.03.1920, Cadiz, Ohio, USA
father Melvin Saviers Fordyce (1877-1958)
mother Lulu R. (nee Steffee) Fordyce (1881-1942)
24.02.1939 entered service
14.09.1942 WIA
1963 married Mary Catherine Fordyce (1927-1983)
died 17.04.1975 (Aged 55) Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Raleigh National Cemetery, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Section 22, Site 354
 

CITATION:

Navy Cross : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Ralph William Fordyce (MCSN: 270424), United States 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. Fighting with skill and determination against three Japanese, Corporal Fordyce overpowered and killed one of them and, seizing the dead enemy's weapon, he shot and mortally wounded the others. Persisting in his daring and relentless tactics, he later charged through the entrance to a hostile dugout, attacked the occupants with a sub-machine gun, including their officer. His gallant fighting spirit and personal valor, maintained despite imminent peril to his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

WEB LINKS:

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/7575

FINDAGRAVE:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3273711/ralph-william-fordyce
Last edited:
First to Fight
By Victor H. Krulak
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