The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Irving Schechter (MCSN: 0-7727), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-Fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the initial assault on Tinian, Mariana Islands, on 24 and 25 July 1944. Assigned the hazardous task of seizing a beachhead and protecting the left flank of the entire landing force, Captain Schechter landed his company on an extremely narrow beach among pitted cliffs and coral boulders and, capably directing the movements of his men, boldly seized the initial objective and organized a defensive position for the night. Furiously attacked by the Japanese just before dawn, he constantly exposed himself to hostile fire to direct his unit and, despite the tremendous odds, inspired his men to hold on until they annihilated the enemy. Although his company could man less than sixty rifles by daylight, he resumed the advance to expand the beachhead and, during four hours of intensive fighting under his leadership, accounted for four hundred Japanese dead and the capture of large quantities of automatic weapons and mortars. Carrying out his dangerous mission with consistent skill and courage, Captain Schechter contributed essentially to the success of our forces during an important campaign, and his bold tactics and brilliant leadership were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.