The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private George H. Erpelding (MCSN: 223901), United States Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as a member of a Marine patrol under fire, in contact with Nicaraguan bandits on 23 August 1930, near Ducuelite, Nicaragua. In spite of three wounds in his left hand and left arm, which he received at the beginning of the contact, Private Erpelding promptly went into action with a Thompson sub-machine gun and continued firing, disregarding his wounds until there was a lull in the bandits’ firing. After receiving first aid he again promptly resumed firing with his Thompson sub-machine gun, continuing in action and assisting in the pursuit until the skirmish was entirely over.