The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class John D. Coppedge (MCSN: 369112), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader of Company B, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Peleliu, Palau Islands, on 15 September 1944. With an enemy tank heading directly for his machine gun position after his supply of ammunition was entirely depleted, Private First Class Coppedge courageously exposed himself to close-range enemy fire to direct a rifle grenade from his carbine grenade-launcher at the hostile vehicle and, although wounded in both legs by shell fragments, succeeded in disabling the enemy tank and thereby contributed to its subsequent destruction. By his initiative and courage, Private First Class Coppedge was instrumental in maintaining his company’s defenses in this front-line area, and his steadfast devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.