The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Hospital Apprentice Second Class Russell Anson Maxfield (NSN: 5547661), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman with Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Peleliu in the Palau Islands, from 15 to 17 September 1944. On the night of 15 September 1944, Hospital Apprentice Second Class Maxfield was with a squad of his platoon in a reserve position. Heavy enemy mortar concentrations fell on a nearby unit, killing and wounding several men. Seeing the men of his own platoon were out of danger, he went over to the adjacent unit and gave aid to the men at the height of the shelling, exposing himself to sniper fire to reach them. His prompt attention to the wounded saved several lives. On 17 September, a Marine was hit in front of the lines. Through extremely heavy small arms and mortar fire Hospital Apprentice Second Class Maxfield quickly gave aid to stop serious bleeding and brought out the injured Marine. On 3 October when the assault platoon he was attached to suffered heavy enemy machine gun fire on the crest of a ridge north of the airfield, Hospital Apprentice Second Class Maxfield went out into an area where fire was so heavy all the men were wounded. Four times he left cover to go up to give aid to these men. Hospital Apprentice Second Class Maxfield died as a result of a wound received while removing a wounded Marine from this sector. Throughout the campaign, with complete disregard for his own safety he was constantly aiding the wounded of his unit and of other units that were nearby. His loyalty and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.