The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Ronald T. Curley (MCSN: 2168667), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Squad Leader of the First Squad, First Platoon, Company F, Second Battalion, Twenty-sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam on 16 May 1967. During Operation PRAIRIE IV, the platoon in front of Sergeant Curley’s platoon came under heavy small-arms and automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army battalion entrenched in fortified bunkers. As the platoon moved to envelop the enemy, the platoon commander and numerous other Marines were wounded, and the platoon was pinned down by a heavy volume of enemy fire coming from all sides. Sergeant Curley immediately took charge of the platoon and moved to an exposed position from which he could better direct the fire fight. Fully aware of the personal risk involved, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire during the three hour battle while directing his platoon. On two occasions he single-handedly assaulted enemy bunkers, silencing the automatic weapons inside. Moving from place to place on the battlefield, he distributed ammunition to men in exposed positions and personally visited each of the wounded men. When the major battle had subsided, he continued to set an example of courage by making three trips to the landing zone with wounded men, a distance of 400 meters, under enemy sniper fire. By his daring initiative, gallant fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty in the face of insurmountable odds, Sergeant Curley saved the lives of many of his comrades and contributed materially to the success of his company’s mission. His outstanding courage and valiant leadership were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.