Navy Cross citation:


The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Hospital Apprentice First Class John J. Daly (NSN: 8156979), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman attached to a Rifle Company of the First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 25 - 26 February 1945. From about 0800, 25 February to 1400 the same date, Hospital Apprentice First Class Daly performed the duties of a Medical Corpsman in aiding and evacuating the wounded of his company. 

At 1400, 25 February, enemy mortar, machine gun, and hand grenade fire became so intense that the wounded could not be evacuated. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Hospital Apprentice First Class Daly untiringly crawled to each position wherein medical attention was needed, applying battle dressings and aiding the wounded. He tended more than thirty wounded and undoubtedly his promptness and intrepidity in the face of such adverse conditions saved many lives of men who could not be evacuated because of the heavy enemy fire.

 On 26 February 1945, when his own front line assault company was relieved by another of the same battalion, Hospital Apprentice First Class Daly on his own volition, seeing the urgent need of medical attention for the relieving company, subjected to the same heavy fire, chose to remain in the front line area treating the wounded. 

His personal courage and conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

JOHN JOSEPH DALY

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