Serial # 06887
Junction City, Kansas
Awarded the Silver Star for actions on Tarawa:
GENERAL ORDERS:
Commander in Chief, Pacific: Serial 0647
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Fenlon A. Durand, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company C, Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, 20 November 1943. When his command tractor was immobilized and set ablaze by enemy shellfire while leading the company of tractors ashore, Captain Durand promptly assumed charge of the infantry troops and directed their abandonment of the vehicle shortly before two other shells demolished the tractor. Finding his severely wounded crew chief in the water, he immediately improvised tourniquets and administered first aid despite persistent, concentrated hostile machine-gun and sniper fire and, completely disregarding his own personal safety, swam with the injured man for more than an hour in a heroic attempt to save his life. Captain Durand's splendid initiative, courageous conduct and unselfish efforts on behalf of another were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Created 31 January 2020
