The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal George F. Lutchkus (MCSN: 271592), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 19 February 1945. Learning that a Japanese pillbox which had been by-passed by the assault waves was holding up the advance of reserve units, Sergeant Lutchkus voluntarily moved forward along in the midst of a heavy mortar barrage into a position from which he threw two grenades into the emplacement. Failing to silence the enemy, he returned to the Command Post and, picking up more hand grenades, returned to hurl these into the pillbox. When four of the hostile troops emerged from the emplacement carrying hand grenades, Sergeant Lutchkus killed them with his carbine and, entering the pillbox, completed its destruction, thereby permitting reserved elements to advance at a time vital to the success of the operation. His bold initiative, courage and unselfish devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Lutchkus and the United States Naval Service.