The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Thomas Sanders (MCSN: 2169627), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as a Machine Gun Squad Leader with Company C, Battalion Landing Team 1/3, in the Republic of Vietnam on 10 May 1967. While participating in Operation BEAVER CAGE, in Tinh, Quang Nam Province, Corporal Sanders enabled his platoon to move from positions exposed to heavy automatic and small arms fire, to a protected trench line, by advancing himself to an exposed position with his squad’s machine gun when all other members of the squad became casualties. He then placed a heavy volume of accurate fire on Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army troops causing them to cease fire. When the enemy troops advanced to the cover of the trench line, in which other members of his platoon were located, he placed himself between the enemy and friendly troops. As the enemy approached to within six meters in front of him, Corporal Sanders delivered machine gun fire down the long axis of the trench line killing approximately two of them and wounding three others before he was killed by enemy fire. As a result of his heroic conduct and fearless devotion to duty, his actions enabled nine Marines, some of whom were wounded, to gain cover in the trench line and to gain positions where grenades and M-79 fire could be delivered on the enemy. By his outstanding courage, exceptional fortitude and valiant fighting spirit, Corporal Sanders served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.