The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Ralph W. Vahle (MCSN: 366841), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Scout of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-Ninth Marines (Reinforced), Fifth Amphibious Corps, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 24 June 1944. When his company’s advance was halted by the fire of three hostile machine guns after he had killed the two riflemen guarding them, Corporal Vahle crawled from his position beneath the lane of fire to within five yards of one of the Japanese guns and, with two hand grenades, destroyed it. Wounded by hand grenades hurled by troops manning the other two guns, he heroically continued to advance and, with five more grenades, put the enemy guns out of action and permitted his company to continue the attack and seize its objective. By his courage and daring, he contributed materially to the success of our forces, and his zealous devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.