The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private James T. Beard (MCSN: 666308), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Rifleman in Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces near Hagaru-ri, Korea, on 3 December 1950. When his platoon closed in fierce hand-to-hand combat with a numerically superior and bitterly resisting enemy force, Private Beard courageously exposed himself to intense hostile fire and, moving from position to position through deep snow drifts, successfully employed hand grenades and rifle fire against the well-entrenched enemy. After killing seven hostile soldiers in his initial attack, he single-handedly assaulted and seized an enemy machine gun, turned its fire against the hostile troops and personally accounted for ten more of their number. By his daring initiative, aggressive determination and unflagging devotion to duty in the face of heavy odds, Private Beard served to inspire all who observed him and contributed materially to the success of his platoon’s attack, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.