The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Junior H. Wirth (MCSN: 554996), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Member of Company L, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 2 June 1945. When two enemy machine guns were causing heavy casualties and holding up the advance of his company and battalion by flanking fire, Private First Class Wirth courageously crawled forward through exposed terrain and under intense sniper and automatic small-arms fire to destroy one of the machine gun positions with hand grenades. After returning for more grenades, he fearlessly ascended a high cliff under heavy fire from the second enemy machine gun and destroyed that weapon, annihilating six of the Japanese. Later, returning to the destroyed positions to insure that they had been completely reduced, he encountered two more of the enemy and succeeded in killing them, thereby contributing in large measure to the success of his battalion in attaining its objective. By his aggressive fighting spirit, initiative and gallant devotion to duty, Private First Class Wirth upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.