The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain John Wisdom Holland (MCSN: 0-8758), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Company B, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, from 15 to 30 September 1944. When hostile forces launched two counterattacks against his zone of action, Captain Holland courageously led his assault company in destroying several enemy tanks and in repulsing both attacks. In the face of concentrated hostile artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire, he gallantly maneuvered his company across fourteen-hundred yards of open airfield to drive the enemy from strong defensive positions at the far side, and successfully held the ground. Later, after five days of bitter fighting, Captain Holland launched an aggressive attack against the Japanese entrenched on a precipitous and commanding hill and, when his troops were temporarily pinned down by the intense fire, boldly occupied an exposed position to rally his men to advance and take the position. His determined fighting spirit, able leadership and unwavering devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.