Charles L. Banks

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Charles L. Banks (0-5313), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of the First Service Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea from 29 November to 6 December 1950. On the morning of 29 November when a numerically superior hostile regiment launched a combined grenade, small-arms, machine-gun and mortar attack against his supply dump area, Lieutenant Colonel Banks quickly deployed his non-tactical personnel into a well-formed defensive perimeter and, assisted by a friendly artillery battery and several tanks, succeeded in repelling the assault and in inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Aggressively defending his sector against a second determined hostile attack during which heavy and accurate mortar fire ignited several oil dumps and a small enemy force broke through his lines, he immediately shifted his defensive positions, engaged and repulsed the hostile troops and put them to rout, again inflicting heavy casualties. As Sector Commander of approximately one-half of the defense area, Lieutenant Colonel Banks skillfully coordinated the component elements of his command into an efficient fighting team which succeeded in repelling an enemy regiment and in wounding at least fifty per cent of the hostile forces during close fighting which lasted from 1 to 6 December. His tactical ability, organizational skill and inspiring leadership reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Colonel Banks and the United States Naval Service.