The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant George W. Yates (MCSN: 0-51368), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Platoon Commander of Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on 8 – 9 April 1953. With his platoon subjected to a devastating barrage of hostile mortar and artillery fire while occupying an extremely vital outpost far in advance of the main line of resistance, First Lieutenant Yates, although painfully wounded, steadfastly continued to move about the dangerous area in order to check his perimeter positions and to ascertain the combat readiness of his men. When the enemy launched a vicious assault against the outpost during the hours of darkness, attacking from two flanks with an estimated infantry company, First Lieutenant Yates personally participated in the ensuing bitter hand-to-hand struggle and accounted for several enemy dead while his gallant defenders were repulsing the assault on one of the flanks. Reorganizing his depleted garrison and moving about through a hail of murderous enemy fire to direct the fire of his men when the numerically superior hostile force penetrated the other flank of the position, he again engaged in the fierce hand-to-hand fighting and, in addition, called down accurate artillery and mortar fire on the enemy throughout the savage assault in which the Marine defenders were firing point-blank at the onrushing hostile troops until the enemy withdrew at daylight. Although weak from his previous wounds, First Lieutenant Yates braved the continuing barrage of hostile fire to move among the few remaining survivors and to assist his casualties. Mortally wounded by an exploding enemy shell after he left the comparative safety of the trench line to go to the aid of another casualty, First Lieutenant Yates, by his inspiring leadership and remarkable fortitude in the face of tremendous odds, was greatly responsible for the successful defense of the vital outpost position. His exceptional valor sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.