The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant Wilson T. Bristol (MCSN: 0-16365), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Commanding Officer of Company D, Third Armored Amphibian Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Peleliu, Palau Islands, on 15 September 1944. Proceeding to the beach on the right flank of the first assault wave on D-Day, First Lieutenant Bristol observed a nearby tank bogged down on a treacherous coral reef and under a devastating concentration of enemy fire. Defying almost certain death, he promptly brought his vehicle alongside and, dismounting amidst a hail of shells and mortar projectiles, expeditiously connected a steel cable to the disabled craft and towed it from the untenable position. Fatally struck down by enemy mortar fire upon reaching the shore, First Lieutenant Bristol, by his daring initiative, great personal valor and dauntless courage against tremendous odds, had saved the entire crew of the stricken amphibian from threatened destruction and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.