The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Charles J. Pottersnak (MCSN: 343728), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 3 October 1944. After his company had occupied a narrow ridge and the safety of its positions was jeopardized by heavy enemy machine-gun fire from positions which completely commanded the ridge, Private First Class Pottersnak voluntarily crossed over the ridge and, extricating a hostile machine gun from a cave in which its crew had already been killed, destroyed the enemy weapon before returning to his own lines. Observing that a group of the Japanese was attempting to put another machine gun in position, he again crossed the ridge and destroyed the enemy gun and crew. His aggressive fighting spirit, initiative and outstanding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.