The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class John Martorano (NSN: 6329608), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman with Company H, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 22 February 1945. While advancing in the attack against a strong enemy force stubbornly defending from commanding ground, Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Martorano and his company came under accurate artillery, mortar, and small arms fire from the front and right flank. Casualties taken by his company were enormous, and Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Martorano, although all men near him were pinned down, unhesitatingly and with utter disregard for his own personal safety, made his way through murderous fire from man to man, administering aid and dragging men to safety. While working, Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Martorano was seriously wounded in the arm, making it useless to him, but, dressing his own wound, he refused to be evacuated, and continued to work with only one hand, administering aid to several more Marines, until he was struck again by enemy fire. His personal courage, outstanding devotion to duty, and professional skill were an inspiration to the other men of the company, and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.