- SURNAME
Wygal
- FORENAME
Edward Rufus
- UNIT
2 Raider Bn (Company B)
- RANK
Corporal
- NUMBER
031220922
- AWARD
Navy Cross
- PLACE
Makin Atoll 1942
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 14.03.1913, Casper, Wyoming, USA
father Robert Samuel Wygal (1872-1945)
mother Alice Brlanch (nee Russell) Wygal
wife Theatta
son Charles
enlisted 07.01.1936
discharged 26.11.1945
postwar employed as tool and die maker with Van Ordt Manufacturing
died 24.01.1983, Aged 69, Park Place Convalescent Hospital, Pomona
buried Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Covina, Los Angeles County, California, USA
CITATION:
Navy Cross : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Edward R. Wygal (MCSN: 250975), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty as a member of a machine-gun section of Company B, SECOND Marine Raider Battalion, during the Marine Raider Expedition against the Japanese-held island of Makin in the Gilbert Islands on 17 and 18 August 1942. With the advance of the attack line held up by enemy machine-gun fire, Corporal Wygal, taking advantage of distracting fire by his own section, crept forward, threw a hand grenade into the enemy machine-gun nest, rushed it and with his pistol killed the last two men in the nest. His initiative, great personal courage, and complete disregard for his own safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
WEB LINKS:
https://marineraiderassociation.org/wygal-edward-r/https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/8496
FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94408120/edward-rufus-wygal
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