LTCOL HAROLD "INDIAN JOE" BAUER
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
Last Name: BAUER First Name: HAROLD Middle Name: W.
Rank: LTCOL Award: Medal of Honor Year: 1942 Unit: VMF-212
Location: Guadalcanal
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
LIEUTENANT COLONEL HAROLD W. BAUER
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous courage as Squadron Commander of Marine Fighting Squadron TWO TWELVE in the South Pacific Area during the
period May 10 to November 14, 1942. Volunteering to pilot a fighter plane in defense of our positions on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Lieutenant Colonel
Bauer participated in two air battles against enemy bombers and fighters outnumbering our force more than two-to-one, boldly engaged the enemy and destroyed
one Japanese bomber in the engagement of September 28 and shot down four enemy fighter planes in flames on October 3 leaving a fifth smoking badly. After
successfully leading twenty-six planes in the over-water ferry flight of more than six hundred miles on October 16, Lieutenant Colonel Bauer, while circling to land,
sighted a squadron of enemy planes attacking the U. S. S. McFARLAND. Undaunted by the formidable opposition and with valor above and beyond the call of
duty, he engaged the entire squadron and, although alone and his fuel supply nearly exhausted, fought his plane so brilliantly that four of the Japanese planes were
destroyed before he was forced down by lack of fuel. His intrepid fighting spirit and distinctive ability as leader and an airman, exemplified in his splendid record of
combat achievement, were vital in the successful operations in the South Pacific Area.
/S/FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT