The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Maurice Gardner Holmes (MCSN: 0-441), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary bravery, coolness and leadership on 6 December 1928, while in command of a small force of Marines engaged in a patrol in the vicinity of Cujelita, Nicaragua. The patrol was attacked by a well-armed force of bandits when it was about to halt for breakfast and although the patrol was completely surrounded and outnumbered four-to-one, Captain Holmes, by his leadership, courage and skill, so conducted the engagement and so inspired the men of his command that the bandits were dispersed after a stubborn and well-planned resistance.