The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Dale W. Whaley (MCSN: 435636), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Member of a Machine Gun Section in a Rifle Platoon of Company H, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the battle of Fonte Hill, Guam, Mariana Islands, on the night of 25 – 26 July 1944. After all the other members of his section had become casualties during fierce hostile counterattacks, Private First Class Whaley manned the machine gun himself and, carrying both gun and ammunition from the primary to alternate positions, worked alone and unaided in the face of heavy enemy machine-gun, rifle and hand-grenade fire. Placing his gun in a position to protect the entire flank of his rifle platoon, he killed approximately fifty Japanese in that area and, although painfully wounded in the hand by shell fragments during this action, remained at his post throughout the night. In the early morning, he accounted for six more of the enemy who attacked his position. By his outstanding fortitude and courage under fire, Private First Class Whaley enabled his rifle platoon to maintain its position despite repeated Japanese counterattacks. His unselfish devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.