The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class James C. Yeaple (MCSN: 503455), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as Assistant Gunner of a Machine-Gun Squad with the Third Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, during the occupation of enemy Japanese-held Tinian Island, Marianas Group, on the night of 24 July 1944. Diligently serving his gun with ammunition, Private First Class Yeaple materially assisted his gunner in maintaining a heavy barrage which inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy and forced their temporary withdrawal from a vigorous counterattack following our assault and subsequent establishment of a beachhead on this strategic island. When the Japanese made a second desperate attempt to penetrate our lines, he remained steadfast at his station despite the loss of all rifle protection around his installation by concentrated hostile mortar, machine-gun and grenade fire, continuing to feed his gun steadily until the emplacement was finally knocked out by enemy guns. Determined not to yield his position, he stoutly held his ground and, with an empty ammunition box as his only weapon, fearlessly engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, battling with fierce aggressiveness until, overpowered by the fanatic opposition, he fell, mortally injured, with one hundred of the enemy lying dead before his gun position and an additional six within the emplacement. An indomitable fighter, Private First Class Yeaple, by his great personal valor and resolute fortitude in the face of almost certain death, contributed essentially to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese infantry company and to the rapid consolidation of the beachhead and his self-sacrificing devotion to duty throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.