The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant Dominick J. Grossi (MCSN: 0-36882), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as Leader of an Assault Platoon attached to Company K, Third Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima, in the Volcano Islands, on 24 February 1945. Penetrating one of the most heavily fortified Japanese positions on Iwo Jima in an attempt to cut across Motoyama Airfield Number Two and capture the commanding ridge, Second Lieutenant Grossi and his men maneuvered the approach to the airstrip with adroit tactical skill and, disregarding the pounding barrage of mortars and field pieces, the merciless cross-fire of machine guns and rifles and the shattering concussions of grenades hurtling through the air and exploding close by, surged across the heavily mined sands dotted with buried pillboxes. Determined to gain his objective and refusing to yield to the overwhelming volume of hostile fire, Second Lieutenant Grossi led his unit against the Japanese with dauntless courage, slashing right and left with his bayonet, thrusting grenades into massive emplacements sunk in the sands, dropping them behind rocks, sweeping aside the enemy, holding desperately and fighting furiously in hand-to-hand engagements as he smashed through a sector swarming with Japanese to gain the fifty foot ridge on the opposite side of the airstrip after approximately ninety minutes of savage conflict. When a strong enemy counterattack forced him to yield the newly-won position, he promptly and effectively reorganized the twelve men remaining in his unit, led the stouthearted group in a fierce bayonet and grenade charge and reoccupied the vital hill. By his aggressive initiative, bold tactics and indomitable spirit during a critical phase of the assault, Second Lieutenant Grossi aided materially in the subsequent capture of the entire airfield and contributed essentially to the success of his Company’s operations against this fanatically defended outpost of the Japanese Empire. His inspiring leadership and great personal valor in the face of tremendous opposition reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.