The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant James Renwick Ray (MCSN: 0-11606), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as a Platoon Leader of Company F, Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Saipan, Mariana Islands, 16 June 1944. Painfully wounded during a fierce enemy counterattack on the morning of 16 June, First Lieutenant Ray refused to be evacuated and continued his efforts in leading his platoon. Constantly exposed to Japanese observation and fire in open terrain, he moved about the platoon supervising the evacuation of the wounded, replacement of casualties and the direction of fire, and personally observed the enemy’s movements. Although suffering from shock, pain and loss of blood, First Lieutenant Ray maneuvered his troops to stop the Japanese advance which was supported by intense concentrations of artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire directed at his position and, by his outstanding leadership, courage and devotion to duty under hostile fire, contributed greatly to the successful repelling of the attack. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.