Serial # 07186
Awarded the Navy Cross for actions on Tarawa:
GENERAL ORDERS:
Commander in Chief Pacific Forces: Serial 917 (February 8, 1944)
CITATION:
"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Kenneth Lyndon Brown, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as Artillery Battalion Commander of the SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, on 21 November 1943. Conducting a reconnaissance in advance of his firing battery, Captain Brown discovered a group of infantrymen who had become separated from their regular units and, voluntarily assuming command, led them to a well-camouflaged enemy machine-gun pillbox emplacement which was delivering devastating cross-fire on our troops as they waded through the surf prior to gaining the beachhead. While maneuvering his group to the flank of the enemy weapon, several of his men were killed or wounded by a covering light machine gun and, in the face of almost certain death, he courageously exposed himself to the line of fire and was mortally wounded attempting to locate the hostile weapon. Captain Brown's grim determination, brilliant leadership and daring aggressiveness directly contributed to the saving of many lives and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."
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