The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Colonel John T. Walker (MCSN: 0-1205), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the Twenty-Second Marines (Reinforced), attached to Tactical Group-ONE, FIFTH Amphibious Corps, during the assault against enemy Japanese-held Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, 18 and 22 February 1944. Placing his command in action against determined and desperate resistance, Colonel Walker led the assault against the Island of Engebi on 18 February. In the fierce hand-to-hand fighting that followed, the Twenty-Second Marines killed the defending garrison of approximately one thousand Japanese, effecting the reduction and capture of the island in about six hours. Four days later the regiment under Colonel Walker’s command invaded Parry Island, destroying over a thousand defenders in desperate close-in fighting and capturing the island on which was based the Eniwetok Headquarters of the Japanese Army. By his gallantry in action, his courageous and forceful leadership and his calm disregard for his own personal safety under terrific fire of the enemy, Colonel Walker was directly instrumental in neutralizing an important hostile stronghold, and his distinguished service throughout the operations was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.