The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lance Corporal Billy K. Henderson (MCSN: 2470976), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Squad Leader with Company H, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, during operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam on the night of 17 July 1969. Occupying an ambush site when he spotted approximately twenty-five enemy soldiers heading toward his squad’s position, Lance Corporal Henderson ordered his men to withhold their fire, surmising that the hostile group was the lead element of a much larger force. He then arranged for an on-call artillery fire mission. Later, when an approximately sixty additional hostile soldiers emerged from the tree line and prepared to attack the command post, Lance Corporal Henderson initiated the ambush and simultaneously called for supporting artillery fire. While directing his squad’s fire, an enemy grenade landed among three of his companions. Reacting instantly, he threw himself on the grenade to prevent injury to the other Marines. Fortunately, the grenade failed to explode. Lance Corporal Henderson then stood upright and hurled the missile into the enemy’s ranks, following which he resumed his fire-directing activities and called for fixed-wing air strikes until the enemy broke contact, having suffered heavy casualties. By his outstanding personal valor, aggressive leadership, and inspiring devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Henderson was directly responsible for saving the other members of his squad from probable serious injury or death. His courageous and heroic efforts reflect great credit upon himself, and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.