Odell M. Conoley

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Odell M. Conoley (0-5183), Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service while serving with the Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 26 October 1942. While under tremendous fire during an assault by hostile forces, major Conoley, with courageous initiative and skillful leadership, organized a group of Marines and counterattacked a numerically superior unit of Japanese troops who had seized a ridge previously held by one of the companies in his own Battalion. After killing two-thirds of the enemy force and driving off the remainder, he and his group captured many rounds of ammunition and much equipment from the enemy. His heroic conduct, maintained at great personal risk in the face of grave danger, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

SPOT AWARD, Serial 777 (SofN Signed August 17, 1943)