David Odem Dolan

Corporal, U. S. Marine Corps

Navy Cross

GENERAL ORDERS:
SPOT AWARD, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 56881 (SofN Signed January 22, 1946)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal David O. Dolan (MCSN: 402707), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Squad Leader in a Rifle Platoon of Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 2 May 1945.
Observing hostile troops withdrawing to cover positions on the forward slope of a hill while leading his squad through heavy enemy machine-gun, mortars and artillery fire, Corporal Dolan directed the annihilation of fourteen of the defending riflemen and the destruction of two hostile machine guns, personally destroying an enemy mortar and killing two of the Japanese. Reorganizing his squad, he discovered three men lying in an exposed position and made three successive trips through heavy machine-gun and rifle fire to carry the wounded Marines to safety. His gallant fighting spirit and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.