The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant Robert R. Brown (MCSN: 0-41760), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as a Platoon Leader of Company F, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 4 and 5 May 1945. Although severely shocked by the blast of an enemy artillery shell when his platoon was met by heavy hostile artillery, machine-gun and mortar fire which caused many casualties during an attack on a strongly-defended Japanese town, Second Lieutenant Brown remained with his men and, rallying them, led them through intense hostile fire to occupy the objective, thereby reinforcing the hard-pressed and thinly-held lines of his company. Twice during the following day, he crept forward of friendly lines through heavy Japanese fire and, on each occasion, destroyed a hostile pillbox, killing nine of the enemy. By his courageous efforts, Second Lieutenant Brown eliminated a threat to the advance of his company and contributed materially to the rapid advance of our forces. His coolness under fire and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.