THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

WASHINGTON

The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in commending the

TWENTY-FIRST MARINES, REINFORCED, serving as the TWENTY-FIRST

REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, THIRD MARINE DIVISION

Consisting of: the Twenty-First Marines; Company "B" , Nine-teenth Marines (Combat Engineers); Company "B" , Third Tank Battalion; Second Band Section,

For service as follows:

"For outstanding heroism in action against enemy japanese forces during the assault, seizure and occupation of Guam, Marianas Islands, from July 21 to August 10 1944. Landing as the center Regimental Combat Team of the Division at Asan, the Twenty-First Marine Regiment Reinforced, serving as the Twenty-First Regimental CombatTeam, swept rapidly over enemy beach defenses toward a strategic high ridge which afforded the enemy observation of the Division landing area and enabled him to deliver accurate mortar and artillery fire on the beaches. Under heavy mortar and small-arms fire as they stormed the two narrow defiles which constituted the only approach to the vertical cliffs, these gallant Marines established two bridgeheads covering the defiles and, by midafternoon, had consolidated the Combat Team's position atop the cliffs, thus materially reducing the volume and accuracy of hostile fire and facilitating establishment of the Division artillery ashore and the landing of supplies and equipment. Halted by direct, shortrange enfilade artillery fire from commanding terrain in adjacent zone, they held tenaciously to their vital position in the face of continuous mortar fire by day, sharp nightly counterattacks and mounting casualties. When the enemy launched a full-scale counterattack with his remaining organized forces in the pre-dawn hours of July 26, wiping out one company of the Combat Team and penetrating the front lines, these officers and men waged a furious battle in the darkness; they annihilated approximately 2,000 Japanese troops in front of and within their position; and, by thelr individual heroism and gallant fighting spirit, dealt a crushing blow to organized enemy resistance on Guam, thereby upholding the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

All personnel attached to and serving with the Twenty-First Regimental Combat Team on Guam from July 21 to August 10, 1944, are authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION Ribbon.

/s/ JOHN L. SULLIVAN

Secretary of the Navy