Osborn Cammack

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Osborn Cammack (819177), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a Platoon Scout with Company K, THIRD Marine Raider Battalion during a landing on Puruata Island, Solomon Islands, 1 November 1943. Although gravely wounded in the left leg and both ankles when a persistent rain of withering fire from a hostile machine-gun nest immobilized his platoon during an assault on a strongly organized enemy position, Private First Class Cammack courageously disregarded his own serious condition, crawling under the barrage of mortar and machine-gun fire from a position of relative protection to a place near the enemy emplacement. From this vantage point he expertly hurled a hand grenade which destroyed the gun and killed its crew of three Japanese, thus enabling his comrades to advance safely. By his valiant initiative and outstanding devotion to duty, Private First Class Cammack inspired his platoon to press home a vigorous attack which resulted in the destruction of all organized opposition and his exemplary conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

SPOT AWARD, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific: Serial 0050 (CofN Signed August 26, 1944)