THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington

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

CORPORAL ROBERT L. HENDRICKS
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism while serving as the 60mm Mortar Section Leader with Company H, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, in connection with operations against insurgent (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 19 February 1968, Corporal Hendricks was directing the 60mm mortar section as it conducted routine fire missions around the company perimetner when he observed an object about the size of a hand grenade and approximately fifteen feet from the mortar position. Locating the object, he found that it was a rock and, reporting the incident to the command post, he alerted personnel along the defensive perimeter. A few minutes later, another rock landed on top of the ammunition storage area to the front of the mortar position. Again, Corporal Hendricks alterted those manning defensive positions and continued to direct the fire missions. Fifteen minutes later, a fragmentation grenade landed near the mortar position and only a few feet from two men sleeping on the ground. Reacting instantly and with complete disregard for his own safety, Corporal Hendricks jumped over the sandbag wall around the position, threw himself on the armed grenade and shouted for his companions to take cover. When all the men had reached safety and it appeared that the grenade would not detonate, he removed the explosive device to a safe area where it was destroyed. By his courage, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Corporal Hendricks upheld the highest traditons of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

For the President,

Secretary of the Navy