The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Cheathem Hudson (MCSN: 0-4641), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 19 and 20 February 1945. Landing on D-Day in the face of intense hostile fire, Lieutenant Colonel Hudson continuously exposed himself in the forward areas of the beachhead to encourage and direct his subordinates in the attack. By his personal example of fearlessness, he inspired his men to move forward in the attack despite heavy mortar, artillery, machine-gun and rifle fire, and to seize its sector of the initial beachhead, which consisted of the high ground adjacent to an airfield and a considerable area of a heavily fortified cliff line. On 20 February, when his battalion was subsequently pinned down, Lieutenant Colonel Hudson repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to supervise and coordinate the attack. Although suffering painful wounds, he refused medical aid until all other casualties had been given treatment, continuing to supervise the attack until replaced by a new Battalion Commander. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.