The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Robert G. Sheipe (MCSN: 457872), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader of Company L, Third Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 26 February 1945. Volunteering his services for a hazardous mission, Corporal Sheipe attempted to neutralize the fire of a hostile machine gun holding up the advance of his company. Realizing the impossibility of completing his mission by counter machine-gun fire after he had been wounded, he refused immediate evacuation to work his way forward under intense sniper fire to a position where he was able to throw hand grenades into the emplacement. Although wounded again, Corporal Sheipe bravely continued to hurl hand grenades until the position was destroyed and the occupants annihilated. His outstanding courage, determination and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.