The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Perry A. Mallette (MCSN: 1171176), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a member of Battery D, Second Battalion, Eleventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on the night of 6 July 1952. When the forward observer team he was accompanying came under intense hostile mortar and small-arms fire while in the assault against an enemy hill position, forcing the unit to abandon wire communications and continue with only a radio, Sergeant Mallette, acting as a wireman, voluntarily remained with his team and continued to move forward with the assault elements of the attack, repeatedly exposing himself to the devastating enemy barrage to assist in adjusting fire on the hostile positions. While he was engaged in this hazardous undertaking, he was seriously wounded and was removed to a sheltered area for medical treatment. Observing machine-gun fire emanating from an enemy bunker and raking the advancing infantry, he refused further medical assistance, arose from his stretcher and, although extremely weak and bleeding profusely, proceeded to assault the bunker with hand grenades, reaching a point within twenty-five feet of the emplacement before he was wounded again and forced to submit to evacuation. By his outstanding courage and valiant fighting spirit in the face of heavy odds, Sergeant Mallette served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.