The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Emil Elias (MCSN: 352209), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Member of a Marine Assault Unit of Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-Second Marines (Reinforced), First Provisional Marine Brigade, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Engebi, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, 18 to 20 February 1944. Suffering severe wounds from an enemy hand grenade which exploded in his foxhole, Corporal Elias remained silent in spite of the excruciating pain, realizing that a groan or cry from him might attract others to come to his assistance and endanger their lives. Feigning death throughout the night until his comrades reached him at dawn on the following day, he was approached eleven times by the Japanese and was shot through the chest to insure his death. By his superb heroism, iron self-control and gallant spirit of self-sacrifice, Corporal Elias protected his comrades from possible injury and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.