The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Harold E. Nelson (MCSN: 0-9754), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Battery H, Third Battalion, Tenth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 7 July 1944. After definitely establishing the identity of approaching troops as Japanese, Captain Nelson instantly instructed his Executive Officer to place direct fire upon the enemy and ordered all Battery personnel to open fire with their individual weapons. When he was ordered to withdraw to the Fire Direction Center area, he remained in his Battery area until the last, directing the withdrawal of his men although exposed to heavy hostile machine-gun and rifle fire. Observing that his men were pinned down by enemy tanks, one of which was concealed behind a house and firing through it with great effect, he organized a group of twelve men and started around the house and, although severely wounded, remained on his feet, organized a defensive circle and continued to fire his carbine until he collapsed. His intrepid spirit, courageous leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.