The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant George R. Sullivan (MCSN: 0-94356), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company L, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam on 17 March 1967 during Operation PRAIRIE II. While on a search and clear mission in the vicinity of Dong Ha in the Quang Tri Province, Second Lieutenant Sullivan’s platoon was approaching a suspected Viet Cong controlled village when it came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from a well concealed enemy force of estimated battalion size. After skillfully employing his men in order to bring a heavy volume of fire on the enemy positions, Second Lieutenant Sullivan observed an enemy automatic weapon to his front and realizing the necessity of neutralizing the well-fortified position, he courageously moved across open fire-swept terrain to within ten meters of the Viet Cong emplacement and silenced the enemy weapon with a grenade. After he had directed a machine gun team into a forward position to deliver suppressive fire at the enemy, he observed that the team’s weapon had malfunctioned. Unhesitatingly he moved through concentrated enemy fire to the team’s location and cleared the weapon. Meanwhile, another machine gun team had begun moving their weapon forward, but both Marines were wounded and fell in an area exposed to enemy fire. Courageously, Second Lieutenant Sullivan again disregarded the heavy enemy fire and unmindful of his own personal safety, moved to their position and carried them to a defiladed area, undoubtedly saving their lives. Later, while moving among his men, encouraging them and directing their fire, he was painfully wounded in his shoulder, arm and both legs. Although unable to move, he continued to direct the actions of his platoon while requesting air support, medical evacuation for the wounded and a resupply of ammunition, and only after reinforcements had arrived, under the cover of darkness, did he allow himself to be evacuated. By his intrepid fighting spirit, selfless courage, bold initiative and unswerving devotion to duty at great personal risk, Second Lieutenant Sullivan reflected great credit upon himself, and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.