The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Donald E. Schmille (MCSN: 523265), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Member of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 13 March 1945. Private First Class Schmille’s company had taken up a defensive position for the night about thirty-five yards from an enemy eight-inch gun position, although the enemy position had not been occupied at the time his company moved in. Shortly after dark, an enemy gun crew emerged from a cave in the vicinity and manned the gun, the blast of which caused numerous casualties in his own company. Private First Class Schmille with complete disregard for his own safety, advanced alone about twenty yards ahead of his company’s front lines in an effort to silence the enemy weapon. When the gun crew became aware of his movements, they attempted to stop him with a barrage of hand grenades. Despite the danger from flying grenade fragments, he stood up and scored a direct hit on the gun with his rocket launcher putting it out of action and killing most of the crew. His heroic example and outstanding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.