The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Milton Gilbert Davis (MCSN: 938301), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as Leader of an Assault Demolition Squad of Company A, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 5 May 1945. When it became apparent that effective enemy machine-gun fire from a cave must be silenced during an attack by his platoon on a heavily defended ridge, Private First Class Davis undertook this daring task. Although receiving painful wounds in the leg, he continued to advance toward the slope of the cave, climbed it with great difficulty, and proceeded to construct a forty-pound shamed charge. Undeterred by hostile sniper fire directed at himself and despite shock and loss of blood from his wounds, he lowered the heavy demolitions charge into the mouth of the cave, causing an explosion and the destruction of the enemy machine gun. Private First Class Davis then slid down the hill, entered the cave and killed the surviving members of the gun crew. His personal valor, aggressive fighting spirit and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.