The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Algie J. Wheeler (MCSN: 409515), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as Acting Platoon Leader of Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 14 June 1945. Assuming command when his Platoon Leader was killed during an assault against a strongly defended hostile ridge, Sergeant Wheeler immediately reorganized the unit and, gallantly exposing himself to the barrage of enemy fire, ably led his men in the assault. Although painfully wounded by grenade fragments before reaching the company’s objective, he continued to carry out the attack. When one of his fire teams reached the battalion objective and was subjected to intense hostile fire which wounded all of the men, he courageously made his way to them and, by delivering deadly and accurate rifle fire, held off the counterattacking enemy, killing at least five of them. Remaining steadfast at the objective with the wounded Marines, Sergeant Wheeler ably protected them and skillfully directed the fire of the company’s supporting weapons by radio until the remainder of his platoon reinforced the position, refusing to be evacuated until he had assured himself that the objective was secured. His aggressive fighting spirit and courageous devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.