The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class William S. McCarver (MCSN: 931195), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as a Browning Automatic Rifleman, serving with Company D, Second Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 February to 6 March 1945. Dauntlessly returning to his company on his own initiative after having been wounded and evacuated, Private First Class McCarver, a few days later, valiantly undertook to make his way across fire-swept terrain to bring news of the front to his platoon leader. Despite a bullet wound received en route, he resolutely proceeded on his mission and succeeded in delivering information which saved the platoon from advancing into a strong enemy defensive position and enabled the platoon leader to map a comparatively safe three hundred yard gain. Refusing to be evacuated because of his wound, on the next day he daringly exposed himself to savage hostile hand grenade and rifle fire to move forward toward several Japanese in a sandbag emplacement, immobilizing them with accurate rifle fire until his squad could draw close enough to wipe out the hostile force with hand grenades. Later, while covering the advance of a flame thrower, he was fatally struck by a Japanese bullet. Private First Class McCarver’s indomitable fighting spirit, initiative and courage in repeatedly undertaking the most perilous of missions and his devotion to duty against all odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.