The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major Benjamin S. Berry (MCSN: 0-71), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 5th Machine-Gun Battalion, 5th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action in the Bois-de-Belleau, northwest of Chateau-Thierry, France. Major Berry led his men in a gallant attack across and into the Bois-de-Belleau on the afternoon of 6 June 1918, inspiring them to deeds of valor by his example. When he reached the edge of the woods he fell, severely wounded. Nevertheless he arose and made a final dash of 30 yards across an open field through a storm of bullets, and reached again the first wave of his command, before yielding to exhaustion from his injury.