The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Ralph K. Wood (MCSN: 422428), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving in a Patrol of Company G, Second Battalion, Twenty-fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 10 July 1944. When a strong hostile force entrenched in a cave directly to the front fired mercilessly at his patrol and temporarily halted its advance, Private First Class Wood, proceeding ahead of the others, immediately engaged the enemy in fierce combat and, encountering a Japanese soldier about to throw grenades at the other members of his patrol, promptly killed him before he launched his attack. Seriously wounded during the bitter action, Private First Class Wood, by his fearless initiative, gallant fortitude and grave concern for the safety of his comrades at great risk to his life, enabled his fellow Marines to advance and annihilate the remaining enemy with a minimum of loss. His self-sacrificing efforts and valiant devotion to duty throughout were contributing factors in the success of our forces in capturing this vital hostile stronghold and reflect great credit upon Private First Class Wood and the United States Naval Service.