The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal William D. McHenry (MCSN: 2253419), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Headquarters and Service Company, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam on 1 February 1968. Corporal McHenry volunteered to accompany a thirty-man reaction force dispatched to aid a Marine unit which had been ambushed while attempting to reinforce the besieged Phu Loc District Headquarters. While en route to the Marine unit the reaction force was ambushed by a numerically superior enemy force, utilizing small-arms and automatic weapons fire. During the initial bursts of fire numerous casualties were sustained, including all the officers. Quickly assessing the situation, Corporal McHenry assumed command and began reorganizing the beleaguered reaction force. Undaunted by the intense enemy fire, he moved from position to position encouraging his men and directing their fire. Observing a wounded Corpsman, he quickly rushed to the wounded man’s aid and moved him to a position of relative safety. Ignoring the enemy rounds erupting around him, he administered first aid to other casualties and moved them to covered positions. Corporal McHenry, while attempting to rescue a wounded comrade in an open rice paddy, was wounded in the arm. Despite his wound and in great pain, he obtained a radio and requested artillery fire support. Directed to withdraw to allow artillery fire to be brought to bear on the enemy positions, he ordered his men to withdraw with the casualties and delivered accurate suppressive fire on the enemy to cover the movement of the Marines. Ignoring Corporal McHenry’s orders to leave him behind, two fellow Marines physically placed him aboard a vehicle and moved to a position of relative safety. By his bold initiative, intrepid fighting spirit, and loyal devotion to duty, Corporal McHenry reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.