The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Stuart L. Brandel (NSN: 0-174133), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer in the assault on the Coast of Normandy, France, on 6 June 1944. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Brandel was attached to the SIXTEENTH Regimental Combat Team and was scheduled to land in the second wave. The boat in which he was embarked was twice driven off in attempting to land, and half of Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Brandel’s party was killed or wounded. Quickly grasping the situation, he set up his radio in the boat and established communications with a supporting cruiser. He was able to fire several very effective missions at a most critical juncture. Later he landed and finding his forward observer seriously wounded, he reorganized his party and took over the duties of forward observer in addition to his own. Although under heavy enemy gunfire he continued to call for and adjust fire which was of marked effect on enemy positions and aided materially in the advance of the army units to which he was attached. The performance of duty of Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Brandel on this occasion was in keeping with the best traditions of the United States Naval Service.