Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, General Orders No. 43 (February 12, 1943)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Nathan Greese (ASN: 36031568), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 132d Infantry Regiment, 23d Infantry Division (Americal), in action against enemy forces near Hill 31, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 2 January 1943. During an attack by his unit on a strongly defended Japanese position, Private Greese’s platoon was stopped and pinned to the ground by fierce machine gun fire. The enemy had the American force under perfect observation and the situation was extremely perilous. Private Greese left his platoon, crawled forward through the jagged undergrowth, and hurled grenades into the machine gun nest and wiped it out. On the way it was necessary for him to dispose of five Japanese snipers. When he had cleared the way his unit rushed forward, effected a successful occupation of their objective and precipitated a subsequent large scale attack of combined American forces which resulted in heavy enemy losses of ground, personnel and material. Private Greese’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.