Earl Francis Peach

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Earl Francis Peach (537449), Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Platoon Runner in Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Korean Area during the early morning hours of 3 November 1950. When his company was attacked and almost completely surrounded by a strong hostile force employing rifles, grenades, and automatic weapons, Sergeant Peach stormed the enemy gun emplacements with hand grenades and succeeded in neutralizing two machineguns and in destroying twelve of the enemy. During the ensuing fire fight which severely wounded a mortar crewman, he exposed himself to the fierce enemy barrage to carry medical supplies to the casualty who was lying bout fifty feet away and, while administering first aid treatment was himself fatally wounded. His intrepidity, indomitable fighting spirit and daring initiative in risking his life to aid another reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Peach and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.