Franklin Brooke Nihart

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Franklin Brooke Nihart (0-6606), 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 Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the area of Hwanggi, Korea, on 15 and 16 September 1951. With the advance of the forward assaulting echelons virtually halted by a well-entrenched and numerically superior enemy force employing artillery, mortars, grenades and automatic weapons during an attempt by the battalion to seize and defend the key terrain in the vicinity of Hill 749, Lieutenant Colonel Nihart boldly made his way through the volume of hostile fire to the exposed positions of the leading elements and personally coordinated all the available supporting arms and aircraft in successfully furthering the attack. Constantly in the thick of the fighting when the enemy launched a furious, night-long counterattack, he skillfully maneuvered his units to meet the continued thrusts by waves of opposing troops and, although exposed to intense hostile fire from a distance of less than 200 meters, maintained an effective defense perimeter despite severe casualties within his battalion. By his outstanding courage, inspiring leadership and unswerving devotion to duty throughout this period of intensive action, Lieutenant Colonel Nihart was directly instrumental in securing and holding the vitally strategic position and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.