PFC Ahrens, found clutching a sword surrounded by 13 dead Japanese soldiers, his final words were “I guess they didn’t know I was a marine.”

PFC Edward Ahrens enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 3 February 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He underwent boot camp training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. He transferred to the Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia on March 16, 1942.
He was assigned to Company “A”, 1st Raider Battalion, Fleet Marine Force,. He landed with that unit from USS Little (APD-4) at Tulagi, Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands, in the second assault wave on 7 August 1942. With Company “C”, 1st Raider Battalion, securing the right flank on the beachhead, Company “A” moved inland and down the right slope of Tulagi’s central ridge. Initially, the Marines were not opposed.


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Navy Cross Citation
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Edward Henry Ahrens, United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company A, FIRST Marine Raider Battalion, during the landing assault and seizure of enemy Japanese-held Tulagi Island, British Solomon Islands, on the night of 7 – 8 August 1942.