Anthony J. P. Conti

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Anthony J. P. Conti (0-25945), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as a Platoon Leader of Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Guam, Marianas Islands, on 25 and 26 July 1944. Locating a hostile machine gun which had been concentrating its fire along his line during an engagement in defense of that sector on 25 July, Second Lieutenant Conti courageously advanced forward in the face of heavy hostile fire and destroyed the weapon with hand grenades. When an overwhelming Japanese force counterattacked later the same day, he boldly moved in total darkness along the lines to rally and direct his men engaged in furious hand-to-hand combat and, when reinforcements were needed at a point in the lines, unhesitatingly manned an automatic rifle. Although wounded during the next engagement, Second Lieutenant Conti maintained a stead machine-gun barrage until the enemy was repelled and, after crawling to his Command Post for additional reinforcements, continued to direct his men until further wounds necessitated his evacuation from the area. His gallant fighting spirit, fortitude and unwavering devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

SPOT AWARD, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific: Serial 00435