The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant [then Corporal] Hubert H. Hunnicutt, III (MCSN: 2277992), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism on 16 to 18 April 1968 as a squad leader in Company C, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. Participating in the attack against an enemy bunker complex on a hilltop near the Khe Sanh Combat Base when the battalion came under heavy fire, seriously wounding his platoon commander, Sergeant Hunnicutt treated the officer’s wounds and then directed squad members into a bomb crater to await a lull in the enemy activity. When Sergeant Hunnicutt attempted to emerge from the crater, he sustained serious wounds along with other members of his unit, and was unable to leave his position because of the continuing enemy fire raking the area. At dusk he left the position and crawled across the fire-swept terrain to secure medical aid for himself and the other casualties trapped in the bomb crater. En route, Sergeant Hunnicutt discovered his company commander lying in an open area, severely wounded. While attempting to render aid and assistance to the officer, Sergeant Hunnicutt was again wounded. Nonetheless, he was able to fire at the enemy positions and to hurl hand grenades, eventually silencing their fire. At the first rays of dawn, he managed to move the company commander to a covered position and then proceeded to seek medical assistance but, overcome by weakness from loss of blood, fell into a gully where he lay for several hours. Alerted by the sound of an aircraft, he gathered his last remaining strength and attracted the attention of the pilot who thereupon landed, placed Sergeant Hunnicutt aboard the observation craft, and then relayed a message to pinpoint the location of the company commander. By his indomitable courage, his selfless concern for the safety and welfare of his fellow Marines, and his inspiring devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming adversity, Sergeant Hunnicutt upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.