The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Vincent Jendeski (MCSN: 282755), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Squad Leader of Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Peleliu, Palau Islands, on 16 September 1944. With his squad pinned down by intense machine-gun fire from enemy-held pillboxes emplaced in extremely hazardous terrain, Sergeant Jendeski observed that one pillbox on his left flank was particularly endangering his squad and, ordering his men to direct heavy counter-fire against the hostile emplacement, led a fire team around the blind side of the pillbox. Forced to close in to the side of the enemy emplacement for protection from increased fire from another direction, he fearlessly exposed himself to throw a hand grenade into the opening of the pillbox, preparing his men to rush in immediately following its explosion. When the grenade was hurled back by the enemy into the midst of his party, Sergeant Jendeski immediately seized it and, although severely wounded in the hand when it exploded as he attempted to hurl it out of range, he undoubtedly save the other men of his group from probable injury or death. His initiative, gallant courage and devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.