The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Warrant Officer Lloyd V. Dirst (MCSN: WO-30117), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Officer in Charge of Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces near Pusong-ni, Korea, on 29 and 30 November 1950. Traveling with his company in a road convoy from Koto-ri to Hagaru-ri when a numerically superior hostile force attacked with intense automatic-weapons, small-arms and grenade fire, Chief Warrant Officer Dirst quickly and skillfully organized his unit into a cohesive defense and, integrating other friendly elements, deployed the group along the ditch beside the road. Braving heavy and accurate enemy fire from distances as close as ten yards, he boldly observed the movements of the assailants and was responsible for aborting their desperate attempts to close and destroy his line of resistance with hand grenades. Throughout the night, he courageously moved up and down the road to encourage the hastily organized men in gallantly defending their precarious location and in repulsing the repeated enemy attacks. A vigilant and courageous leader, he personally accounted for several enemy casualties and supervised his group in holding off the enemy for approximately 12 hours before he was seriously wounded by hostile shrapnel which prevented him from continuing in combat. His tactical skill, indomitable courage and steadfast devotion to duty served to inspire all who observed him and reflect the highest credit upon Chief Warrant Officer Dirst and the United States Naval Service.