John W. Thomason, Jr.

The Navy Cross is presented to John W. Thomason, Jr., Major, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 49th Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in the Battle of Soissons. When a German machine gun nest held up a Marine advance on July 18, 1918, Major (then Second Lieutenant) Thomason and one of his men fearlessly advanced on the position and killed thirteen of the enemy.