The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal George R. Gibson (MCSN: 2010487), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as an Automatic Rifleman while serving with the Second Platoon, Company B, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, during Operation PRAIRIE in Vietnam on 8 August 1966. His platoon was being evacuated by helicopter from an area northwest of Cam Lo, Quang Tri Province, when it was attacked by North Vietnamese Army units utilizing automatic weapons fire and barrages of hand grenades. The half of the platoon that had not been successfully evacuated was quickly surrounded. Casualties mounted as enemy forces in reinforced company strength threatened to overrun the friendly positions. Corporal Gibson observed a Marine, wounded and helpless, almost within the grasp of the advancing enemy. He immediately, with complete disregard for his own safety, left his covered position and exposed himself to murderous enemy fire to provide fire support for the evacuation of the wounded man. The Platoon Commander rallied the platoon for a counter-attack and Corporal Gibson leaped from protective cover and charged into the enemy fire. Although painfully wounded by a grenade, he continued to press the attack until the original positions had been retaken. Knowing their only chance to hold was to obtain more ammunition, he unhesitatingly crossed twenty-five meters of fire-swept terrain and returned with the badly needed ammunition. Observing a machine gun that was not manned, Corporal Gibson immediately put it into action and, disregarding barrages of enemy grenades and accurate small-arms fire directed at him, courageously stood his ground until the North Vietnamese withdrew to reorganize for another attack. The second attack was accompanied by vicious automatic-weapons fire and grenades, and despite being painfully wounded again by machine gun fire, he continued to fight, killing six additional enemy. The North Vietnamese set up a machine gun that threatened to enfilade the Marine position. Corporal Gibson moved out on the fire-swept slope in full view of the enemy, flanked the weapon, and single-handedly knocked it out, killing its crew. His courageous initiative, indomitable fighting spirit and unselfish devotion to duty were contributing factors in the successful removal of the wounded and in saving the lives of many of his comrades. His great personal valor reflected the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.