The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Pharmacist Mate Third Class Ralph Thomas (NSN: 6244741), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman attached to a Rifle Company of the FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 9 March 1945. While attacked to a Marine rifle company, Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Thomas distinguished himself by his courage, quick thinking and coolness. While he was treating a wounded man in a foxhole, an enemy hand grenade was thrown into the foxhole. Ignoring his own personal safety, he stood with his feet over the hand grenade, thereby taking the full force of the explosion, thereby suffering painful and crippling wounds as a result. His courageous conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.