The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Keith J. Harrer (MCSN: 560843), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Rifleman of Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 11 May 1945. When his company’s position was threatened by a strong hostile counterattack supported by intense rifle and grenade fire from the front and by machine-gun fire from the flank, Private First Class Harrer courageously exposed himself to the murderous enemy fire to man an automatic rifle whose operator had been wounded. Although himself wounded by a barrage of automatic fire and further endangered by a constant shower of grenades thrown at his foxhole, he attacked and silenced the hostile machine gun, thus enabling the remainder of his unit to concentrate its fire on the Japanese attacking his company from the front. Steadfastly refusing to leave his post for evacuation, he continued to man his gun and, after twice repulsing enemy attempts to put the machine gun back in operation, finally succeeded in destroying the crew as well as the gun itself. By his unfaltering courage and determination under fire, Private First Class Harrer contributed materially to the success of his unit in defeating the Japanese. His initiative was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.