The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant John H. C. Hamby (MCSN: 1059901), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Squad Leader in Company G, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Yudam-ni, Korea, on 27 November 1950. Undeterred by intense hand-grenade, machine-gun and small-arms fire from a numerically superior enemy force estimated at battalion strength, Sergeant Hamby voluntarily left a covered position and proceeded unaccompanied beyond friendly front lines toward an enemy machine gun which had been impeding the progress of his unit. Placing his grenade and rifle fire with deadly accuracy, he advanced alone on the hostile gun emplacement, reached and overran the enemy position, knocked out the machine gun and captured two prisoners in the process. Although painfully wounded in the shoulder, he steadfastly refused to be evacuated and continued the attack while the objective was being secured and reorganization completed, remaining with his unit until intense pain and loss of blood forced his evacuation from the lines. By his superb courage, indomitable fighting spirit and staunch devotion to duty in the face of grave personal risk, Sergeant Hamby contributed materially to the success of the assault, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.