Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the
Wake detachment of the 1st Defense Battalion,
U.S. Marine Corps. A copy was presented to
each member of the detachment, or his
survivors. The citation reads: "The courageous
conduct of the officers and men who defended
Wake Island against an overwhelming superiority
of enemy air, sea, and land attacks from
December 8 to 22, 1941, has been noted with
admiration by their fellow countrymen and the
civilized world, and will not be forgotten
so long as gallantry and heroism are respected
and honored. They are commended for their
devotion to duty and splendid conduct at their
battle stations under most adverse conditions.
With limited defensive means against attacks
in great force, they manned their shore
installations and flew their aircraft so well
that five enemy warships were either sunk or
severely damaged, many hostile planes shot down,
and an unknown number of land troops destroyed."
The citation is signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt.