The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Stanley A. Strantz (MCSN: 401465), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as a Squad Leader serving with Company A, Twentieth Engineer Battalion, attached to the Third Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, on 16 June 1944. When his squad of engineers was pinned down by intense, persistent hostile machine-gun fire, Sergeant Strantz courteously and with splendid initiative directed his men in a flanking attack on the Japanese position, destroying the emplacement, capturing six of the enemy and killing the remainder, thereby enabling his unit to advance. Cut off from his platoon during a subsequent phase of the attack, he immediately joined another company and led a tank across a ridge line in full view of the enemy and under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and, by telephone communication with the tank, accurately pointed out targets for the crew until he was mortally wounded. Sergeant Strantz’ inspiring leadership, dauntless fighting spirit and tenacious devotion to duty in the face of grave peril contributed in large measure to the success of this vital operation and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.