The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain James G. Headley (MCSN: 0-16615), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as Operations Officer of the Third Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan and Tinian, Mariana Islands, from 15 June to 1 August 1944. Immediately assuming command of Company L when its commanding officer had been seriously wounded and the company pinned down by intense enemy fire, Captain Headley reorganized the company and, exposing himself to direct hostile fire, inspired his men to charge and overrun the heavily fortified positions. Later, in full view of the Japanese and under intense hostile machine-gun and rifle fire, he led an assault against strongly defended positions on Hill 500 and contributed greatly to the capture of that hill by his battalion. When his company was again pinned down by machine-gun and mortar barrages, he maneuvered his depleted units to bring their full fire effect upon the Japanese on Hill 501, inflicting heavy casualties among them. Although painfully wounded as his company was ordered to withdraw to a more advantageous position, he remained with a small group of men to cover the withdrawal and was one of the last two men to retire from the enemy pocket. His forceful leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.