Serial Number - 397881
"Corporal Orville E. W. Broeker, 23, is shown just after he recieved the Navy Cross for heroism on Tarawa. Broeker wounded int he face by a Jap grenade on Tarawa, went on to destroy a Jap machinegun nest single-handed. By knocking out the position, he allowed the Marine advance up Betio Island to continue. Son of Rudolph A. Broeker, 2508 Forest Ave, Riverside, Illinois, Corporal Broeker ground airplane parts in a Chicago defense plant before enlisting."
Cpl. Broeker was awarded the Navy Cross for the following action on 23 November 43:
"Cpl. Broeker's squad was in the assault. After advancing several hundred yards, the assault was held up by heavy enemy flanking fire coming from a concrete machinegun emplacement. Showing bold initiative and quickness of thought, Broeker withdrew his men to a covered position. In the face of heavy enemy machinegun fire, he began to work his way to the emplacement. Midway to his objective, he was hit in the face by fragments of an enenmy grenade. Wounded and partially blinded, he continued to advance and finally, gaining the top pf the emplacement, he dropped a thermite grenade through an air vent and completely destroyed the enenmy resistance, allowing the front lines to continue the advance."
His citation reads:
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Orville E. W. Broeker, United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company L, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, on 23 November 1943. When heavy enemy fire from a concrete machine-gun emplacement stopped the advance of his company, Corporal Broeker promptly withdrew his squad to a protected position and unhesitatingly began to make his way forward under intense fire to the hostile emplacement. Although wounded in the face and partially blinded by fragments of a Japanese grenade, he courageously continued on his mission and, gaining the top of the pillbox, accurately destroyed the enemy resistance, thus allowing the front lines to advance. Corporal Broeker's splendid initiative, great personal valor and unselfish devotion to duty under extremely perilous conditions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Cpl. Broeker was wounded in action.
Notes
Godwin Collection
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Created 30 June 2001 - Updated 22 May 2021
