THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington

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

CORPORAL CLARENCE H. ST CLAIR JR.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Squad Leader with Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 August 1969, while Company K was conducting a search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province, the lead platoon was pinned down by small arms, automatic weapons, and antiaircraft fire from enemy soldiers concealed in well-camouflaged emplacements. Directed to assist the pinned-down element, Corporal St. Clair deployed his men to the point of heaviest contact and instantly came under intense fire. Observing two principal sources of hostile fire, he directed two of his fire teams to provide covering fire while he maneuvered his third team toward the enemy emplacements. While crawling toward their objective, the men were seriously wounded by grenades. Quick to act, Corporal St. Clair began crawling through the enemy cross fire toward the first objective and had advanced only five meters when he was severly injured byt the detonation of another grenade. Recovering quickly, he pressed his advance until he was close enough to the enemy bunker to hurl a grenade through it's aperture, destroying the position and it's occupants. Although suffering intense pain, he valiantly continued in the direction of the second objective and, while thus engaged, was mortally wounded. By his courage, agressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Corporal St. Clair contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit's mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

For the President,

Secretary of the Navy