The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal John Joseph Woerner (MCSN: 806429), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 27 February 1945. Observing a Marine runner fall under the enemy’s merciless artillery barrage approximately seventy-five yards beyond our front lines, Corporal Woerner unhesitatingly risked his life to proceed to his comrade’s aid and, crawling through the slashing steam of hostile fire, reached the wounded man’s side and was administering first aid when a white phosphorous shell struck close by. Immediately throwing himself over the helpless Marine to protect him from the flaming particles, he subsequently completed first aid treatment and ultimately succeeded in evacuating the man to an aid station behind the lines despite his own severe burns received in the performance of his heroic act. Corporal Woerner’s fearless initiative, resolute fortitude and persevering efforts on behalf of another at extreme personal risk to himself upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.