The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant James E. McGreevey (MCSN: 406813), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Squad Leader of an Engineer Platoon of Company C, Fourth Engineer Battalion, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the initial assault operations on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Placed in charge of a mine removal detail, Sergeant McGreevey landed with his men against savage enemy resistance and immediately initiated mine removal operations in an effort to clear a path through the beach area for our assault tanks. Shortly thereafter, he and his squad were taken under a smashing mortar bombardment supplemented by raking machine-gun fire from strategically placed hostile weapons covering the mine field, with resulting casualties to all but two of his men. Aided by one of the two remaining Marines, Sergeant McGreevey evacuated all casualties who could be moved, and then returned to his task of removing mines. Working desperately, he consistently disregarded the blasting Japanese bombardment and, when the surviving members of his squad were killed by the merciless enemy gunfire, staunchly continued to probe and disarm the dangerous weapons alone. Although instantly killed by a shellburst as he cleared the last of the mines from the beach, Sergeant McGreevey had succeeded in fulfilling his vital mission despite the loss of his entire squad, and his unfailing skill, indomitable determination and valiant devotion to duty in the face of tremendous odds reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.