The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Stanley C. McDaniel (MCSN: 0-11551), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 26 February 1945. During a counterattack by a numerically superior enemy force which was coordinated with continuing heavy fire from the company’s flank, Captain McDaniel moved through his company directing its fire to repel the attack, which at some points resulted in hand-to-hand fighting. When the attack was beaten off with great loss to the Japanese and his company’s ammunition supply was almost exhausted, he ordered the company to withdraw one hundred yards to more favorable ground, remaining with the remnants of two machine gun squads to cover the withdrawal. Rejoining his company which had lost almost half of its personnel, he reorganized his men and held this line for the remainder of the day and night. His outstanding leadership and courage were important factors in maintaining the combat efficiency of his company at a critical period. His unswerving devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.