Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hospital Apprentice First Class

Unit:

4th Marine Division "Fighting Fourth", U.S. Marine Corps

Awarded on:

July 20th, 1945

Awarded for:

Operation Detachment

"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Hospital Apprentice First Class James W. Allen (NSN: 3130647), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman with the FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 22 February 1945. At all times when his battalion was in the assault, Hospital Apprentice First Class Allen was outstanding for his utter fearlessness in exposing himself to particularly heavy enemy artillery, mortar and small arms fire, to render first aid to wounded men. On 22 February, with complete disregard for his own safety, he ran fifty yards across an area swept by heavy machine gun fire to drag a badly wounded man out of a flaming tank which had just been immobilized by enemy anti-tank fire. Carrying the wounded man to the lee of the tank, Hospital Apprentice First Class Allen performed an arduous major operation unassisted. Then, in spite of the heavy enemy fire and grave danger of the tank exploding, he was able to drag the man to a defiladed area and to effect his evacuation. As a result of his outstanding heroism and keen devotion to duty, the life of this Marine was saved. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 54919