The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Frank P. Knoll (MCSN: 0-10748), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as Demolitions Officer, attached to Headquarters and Service Company, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, from 15 September to 6 October 1944. Landing with the assault battalions and defying heavy artillery, mortar and small-arms fire, Captain Knoll single-handedly disarmed the personnel and tank mines emplaced in the beach and reef for at least four hundred yards, thereby enabling personnel and vehicles to come ashore in safety. Prior to attacks made by the First Battalion against the Southwest Peninsula on 17 September 1944, he worked in the front lines, continually under intense fire, in order to disarm the mines on the thickly infested sand spit and enabled the assault units supported by tanks and flame throwers, to cross the spit and eventually to annihilate the enemy in that area. Constantly harassed by Japanese sniper fire, he demolished caves and pillboxes, and disarmed mines in the high ground north of the airfield from 23 September to 1 October 1944. On 3 October 1944, before an attack by this organization against the ridge along the east road, Captain Knoll cleared the heavily mined east road and blasted caves and pillboxes, thereby affording safe operation for tanks on the road. His courage, professional skill and devotion to duty throughout these operations contributed materially to our success and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.