Harry Gayer

The Navy Cross is presented to Harry Gayer, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as the commander of a small detachment of the Second Brigade, U.S. Marine Corps, operating in the vicinity of the Santa Rita Mountains, Nicaragua on December 7, 1928. On learning that a large bandit force had laid an ambush for our forces, Sergeant Gayer proceeded over very rough country to the spot and disposed his men with such acumen and strategy that the bandits were taken entirely by surprise. In the ensuing engagement his leadership, courage and skill were of such high order that the bandits were eventually dispersed after a stubborn and well-planned resistance. So effective were his dispositions and so skillfully was the attack executed that the bandits suffered two killed and eight wounded in addition to losing many animals and a large supply of stores and ammunition while there were no Marine casualties.