The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Richard J. Lynes (MCSN: 375564), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Squad Leader of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-ninth Marines (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 17 June 1944. When hostile forces launched a fierce counterattack following his platoon’s seizure of a strategic hill and proceeded to close for hand-to-hand combat, Corporal Lynes promptly shot two of three Japanese personnel who charged him. When the third man advanced waving his saber, he succeeded in throwing him to the ground despite his own painful wounds and, disarming him, killed him with the saber. By his leadership and courage, Corporal Lynes contributed materially to breaking up the enemy counterattack, and his devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.