The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Gunnery Sergeant Addies S. McGinn, Jr. (MCSN: 361974), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company K, Third Battalion, Twenty-Third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 21 February 1945. When the right elements of his company were unable to advance because of heavy fire from an enemy machine-gun emplacement, Gunnery Sergeant McGinn armed himself with an automatic rifle and, at the risk of his life, destroyed the hostile weapons and enabled his company to capture the position and continue the advance. Later the same day when intense machine-gun fire from a well-fortified pillbox held up the advance of his company, he braved the Japanese weapons in order to direct tank fire against the hostile position. Upon finding the tank without communications, Gunnery Sergeant McGinn climbed on top of it and directed its fire through the commander’s turret vision slit. By his initiative and cool courage in continuing to direct the tank although wounded by machine-gun fire, he contributed materially to the destruction of the enemy pillbox. His unwavering devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.