The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class John Klunk (MCSN: 442679), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company B, First Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 17 June 1944. Serving with an antitank rocket team in the front lines when the enemy launched a heavy tank and infantry attack, Private First Class Klunk unhesitatingly left the protection of his emplacement to fire on the tanks and, despite the heavy hostile fire, moved about courageously and fired on the Japanese tanks at extremely close range. Scoring hits on three of the tanks with four rocket shells, he contributed materially to the successful repulse of the attack and, by his initiative, bravery and zealous devotion to duty throughout, upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.