The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Charles Edward Brown (MCSN: 2288651), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Squad leader with Combined Action Platoon H-8, Third Combined Action Group, Third Marine Amphibious Force in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours on 31 January 1968, Corporal Brown’s platoon, located in a compound at Loc Dien Village in Thua Thien Province, came under intense enemy mortar, rocket and small-arms fire. In the initial moments of the attack the enemy penetrated the perimeter and launched a vicious assault within the compound. Quickly moving to a critical bunker on the compound’s perimeter, Corporal Brown rallied the three men who were defending the position and directed a heavy volume of accurate fire against the determined enemy. Despite repeated attempts by the hostile force to overrun the bunker, the Marines repulsed each assault, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers. On two occasions, the enemy utilized riot control agents in an attempt to dislodge the Marines. On each occasion, however, Corporal Brown and his companions refused to abandon their position, even though they were not wearing field protection masks. When the ammunition supply at his position became dangerously low, he fearlessly ran across an exposed area and returned through the hostile fire with the vital ammunition resupply. Utilizing his vantage point to observe the enemy, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to adjust artillery fire on the enemy positions near and within the compound. Although his bunker received three direct hits from antitank rocket rounds and Corporal Brown and his three men were wounded, he resolutely continued to direct accurate supporting fires dangerously close to his position, which forced the hostile force to withdraw and abandon five enemy casualties within the compound and thirty-three in the surrounding area. His indomitable fighting spirit and unfaltering determination inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in repulsing the aggressive enemy attack. By his extraordinary courage, bold initiative and unswerving dedication to duty, Corporal Brown upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.