The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant Ernest V. Bunn, Jr. (MCSN: 0-17598), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as Leader of a Rifle Platoon attached to a company of the First Battalion, Twenty-Second Marines, First Provisional Marine Brigade, during the landing attack to recapture the Japanese-held island of Guam, Marianas, on 21 July 1944. With the company’s advance halted by severe fire from a heavily fortified enemy strong point during the expansion of the beachhead by our assault units, First Lieutenant Bunn quickly located the center of resistance and unhesitatingly risked his life to move forward into the fierce barrage to a point within fifteen yards of the hostile emplacement. Utterly unmindful of his own peril, he daringly hurled his grenades into the Japanese position and completely destroyed it. His exceptional courage in the face of danger and his valiant devotion to the fulfillment of a vital mission were an inspiration to the men under his command and reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Bunn and the United States Naval Service.