THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington

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

CORPORAL EARL W. FOWLER
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Squad Leader with Company C, First Battalion, Seventh Marines in action against insurgent communist forces (Viet Cong) in the Republic of Vietnam on 28 March 1966. During Operation INDIANA, Corporal Fowler's platoon was engaged in an assault on a hostile village in Quang Ngai Province. The intense volume of enemy machine-gun and automatic weapons fire soon inflected heavy Marine casualties and halted the advance of the two attacking squads. Quickly appraising the situation, Corporal Fowler skillfully deployed his squad to provide covering fire and, with complete disregard for his own safety, courageously moved across an open field where three wounded Marines lay helpless only about ten yards from a Viet Cong machine gun bunker. As he reached the position of his stricken comrades, he was knocked to the ground by a barrage of enemy concussion grenades. Undaunted, he picked himself up and took the Viet Cong under fire with his M-79, killing and wounding several and forcing the others to withdraw temporarily. As he was administerating medical aid to the casualties, the Viet Cong returned. Again Corporal Fowler drove them back, killing two with his pistol at a distance of five feet. After helping to carry the wounded men to a covered position, he replenished his supply of ammunition and recrossed the fire-torn field, directing covering fire while other casualties were withdrawn. Although he was wounded in his valiant effort, he stalwartly refused evacuation and remained with his squad through the night, helping to defend the perimeter. By his indomitable fighting spirit and determination to aid his comrades at the risk of his own life, Corporal Fowler upheld the highest traditons of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

For the President,

Secretary of the Navy