Joseph A. Harbaugh

The Navy Cross is presented to Joseph A. Harbaugh, Private, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while a member of a Marine patrol in contact with a bandit group near Achuapa, Nicaragua, on 31 December 1930. the patrol of which Private Harbaugh was a member, while on telephone line repair work, was attacked by a vastly superior force of bandits, and upon the opening of the bandit fire, Private Harbaugh took up a position alongside the trail and returned fire. He was wounded seriously during the course of the action, but without regard for his personal safety and in spite of his wounds he continued to operate his automatic weapon to the best of his ability until he was killed. Private Harbaugh’s conduct during this action was of the highest order and beyond the ordinary call of duty.