Austin R. Brunelli

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Austin R. Brunelli (0-4640), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the First Battalion, Twenty-Fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 8 to 16 March 1945. When he returned to duty after being wounded and evacuated, Lieutenant Colonel Brunelli assumed command of the Battalion which had suffered heavy casualties and, making a personal reconnaissance of his entire front lines, reorganized his badly depleted units into two rifle companies. Restoring the fighting spirit of his men and resuming the attack in coordination with units on his flanks, he contributed materially to the substantial gains of his Battalion against the fanatical resistance of their general advance in the face of intense hostile fire until the resistance of the enemy was completely overcome. His gallant fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

SPOT AWARD, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific: Serial 41635 (June 8, 1945)