The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Albert M. Villa (MCSN: 329907), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Machine Gun Section Leader and as an Acting Rifle Platoon Leader of Company B, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 27 February 1945. During an attack against a strongly fortified hill position when the Platoon Leader and Platoon Sergeant became casualties, Sergeant Villa immediately assumed command and, although subjected to intense machine-gun, rifle and grenade fire, led his men in the attack. As the first man to reach the top of the hill, he threw grenades at the enemy fortifications and directed the platoon into commanding positions. When a flame thrower operator was wounded, he reduced two hostile machine gun positions. Then, crawling back to his platoon, he led three demolitionists to newly located Japanese emplacements and, although wounded, refused medical attention and evacuation until his mission had been accomplished. His courage, intrepid spirit and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Villa and the United States Naval Service.