THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington

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

PETTY OFFICER EUGENE S. HANCOCK
UNITED STATES NAVY

for service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism on 24 February 1969 while serving as Corpsman in Company "I", Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, in connection with operations against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Vietnam. With a squad from Company "I" conducting asearch and destroy operation east of Highway 5 near La Chau (5) in Quang Nam Province, when the unit came under a heavy volume of small-arms, automatic-weapons, and rocket-propelled granade fire from a concealed and well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army company and sustained several casualties, Petty Officer Hancocl immediately proceeded to the assistance of three casualties, treated their wounds and, aided by his comrades, removed all three men to a position of relative saftey. Upon observing a critically wounded Marine who was lying in an area dangerously exposed to the the intense enemy fire, Petty Officer Hancock manuvered across the fire-swept terrain and methodically applied tourniquets to the Marine's legs to stop the profuse bleeding. Assured of the casualty's immediate evacuation to friendly lines, Petty Officer Hancock then valiantly ran throught the intense hostile fire to yet another seriously wounded comrade, but was himself mortally wounded by automatic-weapons fire before he could reach the Marine. By his heroic and inspiring efforst, Petty Officer Hancock was directly instrumental in saving the lives of four Marines. His courage, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty in the face of heavy enemy fire were in keeping the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

For the President,

Secretary of the Navy