Morse L. Holladay

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Morse L Holladay (0-9646), Captain, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of Headquarters Company, First Service Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Hagaru-ri, Korea, on 29 and 30 November 1950. When a numerically superior enemy force launched a concentrated attack on his sector, Captain Holladay, as second-in-command of the defense perimeter, repeatedly exposed himself to intense hostile fire to direct and encourage his group in maintaining a strong perimeter defense. Immediately assuming charge of a sub-sector when its commander was seriously wounded, he reorganized and redeployed the men and, by skillfully directing their effective fire, succeeded in repelling the hostile attack. Aware that ammunition was being rapidly depleted during attempts to stop repeated enemy assaults, he led a personally organized group of volunteers on several trips through heavy, close-range hostile fire to obtain sufficient ammunition to replenish the critically low supply, thereby contributing materially to the successful repulse of all enemy attacks and to the continued defense of the perimeter. His gallant leadership, tactical ability and courageous devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Captain Holladay and the United States Naval Service.