The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Robert I. Widger (MCSN: 2380489), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism on 7 June 1969 as a Machine Gun Squad Leader in Company K, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. When his platoon commander and platoon sergeant were seriously wounded, along with several other Marines, during a ground attack by a numerically superior hostile force which penetrated the defensive perimeter, Corporal Widger immediately assumed command of the platoon and repeatedly exposed himself to the enemy fire while directing the fire of his men and coordinating the defensive actions. On one occasion, he manned a machine gun and accounted for several enemy casualties. On still another occasion, when his weapon malfunctioned, he succeeded in eliminating an attacking enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat. With several wounded Marines lying in dangerously exposed positions, Corporal Widger moved across the fire-swept terrain to his fallen comrades, administered first aid, and moved them to covered positions. Under his decisive leadership, the enemy attack was repelled and the hostile troops were driven from within the perimeter. He then provided cover while the medical evacuation helicopters extracted the wounded. By his heroic and inspiring actions, Corporal Widger contributed greatly to the success of his platoon in accounting for numerous enemy casualties and in capturing large quantities of weapons and ammunition. His outstanding courage, initiative, and devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.