The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Joseph G. LeBlanc (MCSN: 275346), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty as a member of a Rifle Company of the Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese armed forces at the Tenaru River, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 21 August 1942. Performing patrol duty and armed only with a rifle when an overwhelming Japanese landing force launched a furious attack, Corporal LeBlanc, together with two other Marines, promptly deployed and held off the enemy in their sector by fierce and desperate fighting. Valiantly carrying on after enemy fire had killed one of the group, Corporal LeBlanc and his remaining comrade manned a light machine gun and maintained their unyielding defense of our positions against what appeared to be insurmountable odds. Despite the death of his remaining companion and with complete disregard for his personal safety, Corporal LeBlanc continued to fire until his ammunition was spent. He dauntless spirit of self-sacrifice and his unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great peril sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.