Lionel A. Canejo

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lionel A. Canejo (399985), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Rifleman of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, during operations against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, 21 February 1945. Boldly attacking an enemy machine gun emplacement while under heavy enemy machine-gun fire, Private First Class Canejo ran a distance of forty yards to the enemy emplacement and, upon attempting to open fire, discovered that his weapon had jammed. Undaunted he attacked the rear entrance and killed the first Japanese who rushed out to engage him by hitting the man on the skull with sufficient force to break the stock of his rifle. Drawing his combat knife, he dashed inside the pillbox and killed three more enemy. Although he sustained painful wounds during the engagement, Private First Class Canejo crawled back to the company under fire and reported his findings. His initiative, high courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

SPOT AWARD, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific: Serial 42133 (SofN Signed January 26, 1948)