THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington

The President of the United States, takes pride in presenting the
NAVY CROSS to:

LANCE CORPORAL PAUL E. GRIMES JR.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Rifleman with Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines in the Republic of Vietnam on 4 March 1967. During Operation DE SOTO, Company F was conducting a search and destroy mission in the vicinity of Thanh Hieu (1), Quang Ngai Province, when the second squad, third platoon was taken under intense enemy automatic weapons fire from a heavily fortified enemy bunker. The initial enemy fire wounded one Marine and pinned down the remaining members of the second squad behind a rice paddy dike which lay approximately 100 meters from the enemy emplacement. The Company Commander joined the second squad and asked for a volunteer to advance on the bunker and attempt to destroy it by firing LAW's into the aperture. Lance Corporal Grimes immediately volunteered and after obtaining two LAW's moved from his covered position and advanced thirty meters toward the bunker through the devestating enemy fire. After firing the two LAW's and striking the bunker both times, he returned to his previous position. Seconds later the clattering of the enemy automatic weapons was again heard from the bunker. Realizing that the LAW's had not penetrated the heavily fortified bunker and that the enemy must be silenced in order to evacuate the Marine who had been previously wounded, Lance Corporal Grimes took two grenades in hand and assaulted the bunker. As he advanced through the devastating enemy fire, bullets ripped at his flak jacket and two grenades were thrown at him. Upon reaching the enemy bunker, he fearlessly climbed to the aperture, pulled the pins on his grenades, and thrust them through the opening. The destruction of the enemy bunker was the turning point in a violent action taken against the enemy. By his outstanding courage, exceptional fortitude and valiant fighting spirit, Lance Corporal Grimes served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

For the President,

Secretary of the Navy