The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Watkins Boyd (MCSN: 0-5315), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during operations against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, from 15 to 25 September 1944. When his Battalion was subjected to strong enemy tank attack which threatened the entire line, Lieutenant Colonel Boyd directed his troops in repelling the attack and destroying the Japanese. Refusing evacuation the next day after sustaining a severe injury to his hand, he went with the forward elements of his command and led his Battalion across the fire-swept northern end of the airfield. Moving from one unit to another, he succeeded in capturing and holding strategic areas in the face of intense enemy fire from the dominating ground to his front and left. While taking up a new position just before dark on 25 September, Lieutenant Colonel Boyd personally reconnoitered the entire area despite heavy hostile mortar and small-arms fire and then placed his Battalion in a position to repulse a fanatical enemy counterattack with a minimum of casualties. His professional skill, courage and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.