The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant John D. Wright (MCSN: 504125), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Tank Commander of Company B, First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 15 May 1945. Acting on his own initiative despite heavy hostile fire, Corporal Wright dismounted from his tank and searched a sector forward of the front lines for wounded men. While under intense enemy small-arms fire, he carried two seriously injured infantrymen to his tank and placed them in it. When his tank received five direct hits from a Japanese antitank gun while returning to the rear with the casualties, Corporal Wright realized the precarious position of the wounded as well as the danger to his own crew, and, fearlessly exposing himself from the turret while subjected to heavy hostile fire, directed the tank into a covered position. Traveling on foot, he then carried the casualties to an aid station. By his courageous leadership and coolness under fire, Corporal Wright contributed materially to saving the lives of two comrades, and his devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.