The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Charles J. Monges (MCSN: 292584), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as Sergeant Guide of Company L, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan Island, Marianas Group, 2 July 1944. When his platoon was fired upon from concealed gun emplacements during an advance by his company, Sergeant Monges dragged a seriously wounded automatic rifleman out of the path of fire of an enemy machine gun to a position where he could receive first aid and, taking the automatic rifle himself, braved intense rifle and machine-gun fire to work his way forward to deliver fire on the enemy. Continuing to fire upon the Japanese until the other members of his platoon could aid him, he contributed materially to the success of his platoon in destroying an enemy machine gun and in annihilating the enemy. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Monges and the United States Naval Service.