The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Bennett Warren Alford (MCSN: 0-30926), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as a Platoon Leader of Company G, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on the night of 12 March 1945. After his platoon had advanced three hundred yards through a rugged ravine and had lost contact with the company on its left flank which had been forced to fall back, First Lieutenant Alford steadfastly refused to relinquish the ground gained and, fully award of his precarious position, heroically exposed himself to close-range hostile mortar, grenade and small-arms fire to supervise the deployment of his men into a strong defensive position. Although a burst of point-blank enemy machine-gun fire tore into his pack, jacket and rifle, he remained in his exposed position to supervise the movement of ammunition and supplies to his men and guide the evacuation of the wounded over the difficult terrain. By his courage, coolness and determination, First Lieutenant Alford contributed materially to the success of his platoon in accomplishing a hazardous and important mission, and his conduct throughout upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.