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Roebuck, Gerald Edward

Date of birth:
July 26th, 1923 (Birmingham/Alabama, United States)
Nationality:
American

Biography

Enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. Volunteered to serve with the newly formed Marine Raiders and was a medic (Pharmacist Mate) with the 1st Marine Raider Battalion.
Landed on Tulagi and later on Guadalcanal where the Raiders joined back up with the 1st Marine Division assaulting and holding Guadalcanal.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class
Unit:
1st Marine Raider Battalion
Awarded on:
1943
Citation:
"For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a Company Corpsman with the 1st Marine Raider Battalion during an engagement with enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the night of 13 - 14 September 1942. When his company was almost completely surrounded by the Japanese and under attack from all directions, Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Roebuck, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, constantly exposed himself to enemy fire to care for and evacuate the wounded. As a result of his dauntless courage and outstanding devotion to duty, Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Roebuck undoubtedly saved the lives of many of the injured who otherwise might have perished. His courage and efforts in behalf of others at great risk to his own life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 312 (March 1943).
Navy Cross

Sources

  • Photo 1: Jeffery Martin
  • - Sterner C.D., Recipients of The Navy Cross, 1916 - Present
    - Department of the Navy
    - Home of Heroes

Photo