The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Charles R. Yordy (MCSN: 2420003), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Company K, Third Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 24 May 1968 during Operation ALLEN BROOK in Quang Nam Province, Private Yordy’s platoon was assigned the mission of enveloping an enemy village in order to relieve the pressure on an adjacent platoon which was pinned down by the heavy volume of fire from well fortified hostile positions. As the Marines moved up on the flank of the enemy, the unit came under intense automatic weapons fire from several North Vietnamese bunkers and spider holes, pinning down the platoon and inflicting numerous casualties, including the platoon commander who fell directly in front of an enemy machine-gun emplacement. Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his personal safety, Private Yordy rushed across the hazardous area firing his M-16 rifle from the hip and succeeded in reaching the side of the injured officer. Picking up the wounded man’s M-79 grenade launcher and ignoring the enemy rounds striking around him, he fired directly into the aperture of the bunker silencing the hostile fire. Observing another enemy bunker nearby which had pinned down his companions, he crawled to the emplacement and destroyed it with several hand grenades. As the platoon began to withdraw, Private Yordy selflessly remained behind and covered the withdrawal of his unit by throwing hand grenades and firing his grenade launcher at the hostile position, abandoning his precarious position only when he was assured that his fellow Marines had reached relative safety. Throughout the battle, his heroic actions and presence of mind were an inspiration to all who observed him and were responsible for the successful extraction of his unit, undoubtedly saving the lives of many of his comrades. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit, and selfless devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Private Yordy upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.