The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant Michael P. McCormick (MCSN: 0-107462), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam on 20 March 1969. Second Lieutenant McCormick and a fire team from his platoon were heli-lifted into an area north of Khe Sanh as the assault element in an operation to secure Fire Support Base Argonne. Immediately upon disembarking from the aircraft, the entire team was pinned down by a heavy volume of fire from hostile soldiers occupying fortified bunkers overlooking the landing zone. Reacting fearlessly, Second Lieutenant McCormick moved across the fire-swept terrain from one man to another and, shouting words of encouragement, restored their confidence. Under cover of machine gun fire, he then initiated an aggressive assault upon the bunkers, and charging up the slope, he and his three-man team stormed and systematically destroyed three of the fortifications with hand grenades and close-range rifle fire, thereby providing security for the remaining Marines landing in the zone. Later that day, Second Lieutenant McCormick led one of his squads during a search and destroy operation in the surrounding area and encountered intense automatic weapons fire from a well-concealed emplacement. Repeated attempts by the Marines to recover their injured point man were thwarted by machine gun fire from concealed enemy soldiers. Unwilling to risk further Marine casualties, second Lieutenant McCormick directed his squad to provide protective fire and, with complete disregard for his own safety, maneuvered toward the casualty. He had almost attained his objective when he was mortally wounded by hostile fire. By his heroic actions, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant McCormick upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.