The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class G. B. Cearley (MCSN: 284136), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving with a Rifle Company of the Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Matanikau River Area, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands, on 5 October 1942. Although a hospital corpsman had been killed in a third desperate attempt to rescue a severely injured Marine from the exposed area where he had fallen, Private First Class Cearley, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, daringly worked his way forward under a hail of Japanese fire and removed his wounded comrade to a place of safety. The outstanding courage and gallantry displayed by Private First Class Cearley in saving the life of another at great risk to himself were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.