Stanley E. Osborn

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Stanley E. Osborn (0-24345), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as a Rifle Platoon Leader of Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-Fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Tinian, Marianas Islands, 24 July 1944. With nineteen men left in his platoon following the company landing in the assault wave and its progress inland to the first objective, Second Lieutenant Osborn braved intense enemy fire and, moving from foxhole to foxhole, encouraged his men to repel a hostile counterattack which was directed at his platoon at close quarters. Although the enemy’s tactics of hitting, re-forming and hitting again at the same spot wounded many of his men and placed his group in danger of being completely surrounded, he urged his platoon to remain in position until the attack was broken up at daybreak with heavy personnel losses to the Japanese. His inspiring leadership, courage under fire and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Osborn and the United States Naval Service.

Fleet Marine Force, Pacific: Serial 19648