The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant [then Corporal] John L. Fenwick, Jr. (MCSN: 1115112), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a temporary Squad Leader in Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the H’wachon Reservoir Area of Korea during the latter part of April 1951. With his platoon critically short of ammunition while pinned down by a heavy concentration of hostile automatic weapons fire during an assault on an enemy hill position, Sergeant Fenwick twice exposed himself to the intense fire by moving out on the forward slope of the hill and returning with two fallen comrades, one of whom had already succumbed to his wounds. During his second trip to the open area, he hurled hand grenades at an enemy position which had been the point of greatest resistance, and succeeded in knocking it out. He then gathered together the rifles and ammunition of the two victims and returned to his platoon, enabling his unit to gain the advantage in fire power and to ultimately secure the objective. By his indomitable fighting spirit and selfless efforts in behalf of others, Sergeant Fenwick upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.