Lieutenant Colonel Cushman, Robert E. USMC Navy Cross Navy Cross Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Cushman, Jr. United States Marine Corps For extraordinary heroism from July 21 to August 20, 1944, while commanding the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, during the recapture of Guam. When his battalion was ordered to seize and hold a strongly organized and defended enemy strongpoint which had been holding up the advance for some days, Lieutenant Colonel Cushman directed the attacks of his battalion and the repulse of numerous Japanese counterattacks, fearlessly exposing himself to heavy hostile rifle, machine gun and mortar fire in order to remain in the front lines and obtain firsthand knowledge of the enemy situation. Following three days of bitter fighting culminating in a heavy Japanese counterattack which pushed back the flank of his battalion, he personally led a platoon into the gap and, placing it for defense, repelled the hostile force. By his inspiring leadership, courage and devotion to duty, he contributed materially to the success of the mission with the annihilation of one-enemy battalion and the rout of another. LtCol Cushman subsequently attained the grade of General and served as the Commandant of the Marine Corps.