On October 26, 1942, in the Solomon Islands, Platoon Sergeant Mitchell Paige of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, United States Marine Corps, displayed extraordinary heroism in combat against Japanese forces. When the enemy broke through the line directly in front of his position, he commanded a machine-gun section with fearless determination and continued directing his gunners' fire until all his men were killed or wounded. Fighting alone under intense shellfire, he used his gun until it was destroyed, then took over another and moved from gun to gun, maintaining relentless fire against the advancing enemy until reinforcements arrived. He then helped form a new line and led a bayonet charge that drove the enemy back and prevented a breakthrough.