Foreign Nationals - Home of Heroes

World War II - Navy Cross - Foreign Nationals

There are 19 Foreign Nationals who received the Navy Cross during World War II. Their citations are listed alphabetically by last name. Here is the breakout by country.

Australia - 3
Brazil - 1
Morocco - 1
New Zealand - 4
Russia - 10

* Indicates Killed in Action (KIA), Missing in Action (MIA), Prisoner of War (POW), or Died Non-Battle (DNB)

ARMSTRONG, JOHN MALET

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to John Malet Armstrong, Commodore 2d Class, Royal Australian Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action as Commanding Officer of HMAS AUSTRALIA during the capture of Lingayen Gulf and the landing on Luzon, Philippine Islands from 6 January to 9 January 1945. Although Australia was heavily hit, suffering heavy casualties and the disablement of a large portion of her anti-aircraft guns and radar system, Captain Armstrong maintained her assigned station and carried out her bombardment missions.

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 15 May, 1947, p. 1325
Hometown: Australia

AVDEEV, M. V.

Synopsis:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to M. V. Avdeev, Lieutenant Colonel, Navy of the U.S.S.R., for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action against the Germans while serving with the Soviet Northern Fleet. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.

Hometown: Russia

*BAND, JOHN MOREL

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to John Morel Band, Lieutenant Commander, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy, as Officer in Charge of the Naval Beach Party that landed at Japanese occupied Finschafen on 22 September 1943. Lieutenant Commander Band landed with the first wave in face of heavy enemy machine gun and mortar fire. In absolute disregard for his own safety he repeatedly exposed himself in efforts to execute successfully the task that had been assigned him, and in doing so, was mortally wounded. Demonstrating tenacious courage, he continued to direct his group and was successful in diverting one group of landing craft that was about to land on the wrong beach in the face of heavy enemy opposition. As a result of his wounds, he fell unconscious on the beach and was returned to a field hospital where he died. His daring leadership and devotion to duty contributed to the successful completion of a vital mission. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 21 June 1945, p. 1352

Hometown: Australia

BASISTY, N.E.

BRIDSON, GORDON

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Gordon Bridson, Lieutenant Commander (DC), Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the HMNZS KIWI, during an engagement with a Japanese submarine at Kamimbo, near Guadalcanal, on 29 and 30 January 1943. Immediately upon making contact with the enemy vessel, Lieutenant Commander Bridson launched a determined depth charge attack, forcing the submarine to the surface. He scored several hits with gunfire and twice during this engagement rammed the enemy ship. Lieutenant Commander Peter Phipps, commander of HMNZS MOA then held the vessel under gunfire until he had driven it back to the beach. The actions of Lieutenant Commander Bridson contributed directly to the ultimate destruction of the enemy submarine.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 314 (May 1943)

Born: December 2, 1909 at Auckland, New Zealand

Hometown: Wellington, New Zealand

*BUCHANAN, CAMPBELL H.

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Campbell H. Buchanan, Leading Signalman, Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Leading Signalman of the HMNZS KIWI, during an engagement with a Japanese submarine at Kamimbo, near Guadalcanal, on 29 and 30 January 1943. Although mortally wounded and gallantly disregarding his own serious condition, Leading Signalman Buchanan remained at his battle station, skillfully training the searchlight and illuminating the target for the guns of his ship. Dauntlessly performing his task, while the corvette attacked with depth charges, forcing the Japanese submarine to the surface and ramming it, Leading Signalman Buchanan, by his intrepid devotion to duty, aided materially in the destruction of the enemy vessel.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 315 (June 1943)

Born: April 7, 1920 at Port Chalmers, New Zealand

Hometown: Port Chalmers, New Zealand

BURLAMAQUI, ARMANDO

FARNCOMB, HAROLD BRUCE

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Harold Bruce Farncomb, Commodore, Royal Australian Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action as Commander, Royal Australian Squadron, during the capture of Lingayen Gulf and the landing on Luzon, Philippine Islands, from 6 January to 9 January 1945. During this period, in which HMAS AUSTRALIA was hit four times by enemy planes and HMAS ARUNA seriously damaged, Commodore Farncomb displayed a high degree of courage, determination, and professional skill.

Hometown: Australia

FISANOVICH, I. I.

GRESHILOVE, M.V.G.

GURIN, A.I.

GUSKOV, E.V.

KENNEDY, DONALD G.

Synopsis:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Donald G. Kennedy, Captain, New Zealand, for extraordinary heroism in action against Japanese forces as a Coast Watcher at Sergi Point, New Georgia, in the Solomon Islands. Captain Kennedy, he led his men in numerous skirmishes and destroyed or captured many Japanese troops, machine-guns, and barges, with negligible injury to his force. He also rescued many downed American airmen.

Born: at Springhills, Southland, New Zealand

Hometown: Invercargill, New Zealand

KUCHEROV, S. G.

KURZENKOV, S. G.

MALAVERGNE, RENE

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Rene Malavergne, Civilian, French (Civilian), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Civilian Pilot aboard the U.S.S. Dallas (DD-199) in support of the landing operations during the occupation of French North Africa, 8 and 9 November 1942. Personally taking the helm, Malavergne guided the destroyer through heavy seas, breaking over a bar at the mouth of the Sebou River, snapped a steel cable boom stretched across the river entrance, and steamed into the channel. Though shore batteries, machine guns, and snipers on the banks kept the vessel under heavy fire, Malavergne threaded a tortuous way among the wrecks of merchant ships that had been scuttled in the channel, often literally ploughing through the mud of the shallow river bottom, and landed United States raider forces ten miles from an airfield that the raiders successfully captured.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 314 (May 1943)

Hometown: Morocco

PHIPPS, PETER

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Peter Phipps, Lieutenant Commander (D.S.C.), Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the HMNZS MOA, during an engagement with a Japanese submarine at Kamimbo, near Guadalcanal, on 29 and 30 January 1943. Immediately upon making contact with the enemy vessel, Lieutenant Commander Bridson, Commanding Officer of HMNZS MOA, launched a determined depth charge attack, forcing the submarine to the surface. He scored several hits with gunfire and twice during this engagement rammed the enemy ship. Lieutenant Commander Peter Phipps then held the vessel under gunfire until he had driven it back to the beach. The actions of Lieutenant Commander Phipps contributed directly to the ultimate destruction of the enemy submarine.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 314 (May 1943) - Gazetted in the London Gazette on June 29, 1943, p. 2948

Born: June 7, 1909 at Whitby, England

Hometown: Wellington, New Zealand

TATARENKO, DMITRII MITROFANOVICH

TRAVKIN, I. V.