- SURNAME
Gagnon
- FORENAME
Leo Morris
- UNIT
1 Marine Parachute Bn (Company A)
- RANK
Private
- NUMBER
281567
- AWARD
Navy Cross
- PLACE
Gavutu,Solomon Islands 1942
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
ROLL OF HONOUR:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/gagnon-leo-m.23803/CITATION:
Navy Cross : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private Leo M. Gagnon (MCSN: 281567), 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. 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.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/7781FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3775469/leo-m-gagnon
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