The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Cedric J. Scheidleman (MCSN: 0-27836), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as a Platoon Leader of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. When he landed on the fire-swept beach with his troops in the early phases of the operation, the assault wave in that sector had penetrated the beach as far as the first line of defense where it was pinned down by intense hostile machine-gun and 47-mm. gunfire from a large pillbox. Despite the great personal danger of exposing himself to the rain of enemy fire, First Lieutenant Scheidleman courageously proceeded alone forward of the front lines toward the emplacement to a position from which he could neutralize the hostile weapon with fragmentation and phosphorous grenades. Although wounded while working his way forward, he gallantly advanced to the open embrasure and drove out the enemy with grenade and carbine fire, sustaining additional wounds in the course of this action. When two Japanese charged him with drawn bayonets, he coolly killed both before they could reach him. By his aggressive fighting spirit and coolness in the face of great danger, First Lieutenant Scheidleman contributed greatly to the continuation of the attack in that sector and his conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.