The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant William H. Grissim, III (MCSN: 0-22077), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as an Artillery Forward Observer, while attached to the Second Battalion, Twelfth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, Third Amphibious Corps, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Mariana Islands, on the night of 21 – 22 July 1944. Advancing to a location atop a small hill, Second Lieutenant Grissim directed our artillery fire in the face of intense opposition from enemy rifles, mortars, machine guns and grenades. Despite two wounds sustained in this action, he stood his ground and, calling fire down upon himself on more than one occasion in order to direct our fire against the hostile troops in his immediate vicinity, assisted the infantry in maintaining their position and in repelling four counterattacks. His professional skill, courage and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.