Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain William A. Eddy, Jr. (MCSN: 0-13908), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-Fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, during operations against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. On 19 February 1945, while leading his company after dark to the high ground on the Division’s right flank, Captain Eddy discovered that adjacent units were below and to the rear of his unit. When several small enemy counterattacks threatened his precarious position, he personally rallied his men and, encouraging them to hold their lines, led them on to annihilate many of the Japanese. On 8 March, during a heavy mortar barrage, Captain Eddy directed an attack on an enemy blockhouse and, although wounded in his right arm by a hostile rifle bullet, refused treatment to continue the assault and destroy the objective. Although heavy enemy fire frequently pinned down his company, he repeatedly stood up forward of his men to encourage them and lead them against the objective and, by his courageous efforts, was in a great measure responsible for the neutralization of the area and the annihilation of the Japanese where no advance had been made for seven days. His aggressive leadership, courageous fighting spirit and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Awards Received