Ronald Norman Levasseur

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Ronald Norman Levasseur (1094587), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Platoon Messenger in Company I, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces near Hagaru-ri, Korea, on the night of 28 – 29 November 1950. Immediately following the initial assault on his platoon by a numerically superior enemy force, Private First Class Levasseur fearlessly exposed himself to intense hostile small-arms fire to assist in restoring the wire communications between his platoon and the company command post and, undaunted by the continual enemy small-arms and grenade attacks, repeatedly traversed open terrain to deliver messages in various sections of the platoon area. Courageously refusing to take cover during the interim periods, he maintained a constant watch and, firing from a standing position, killed a total of six of the enemy who were attempting to advance into his sector. Observing an enemy soldier, on one of these occasions, penetrate friendly lines and jump into a foxhole, he tossed a grenade into the hole from a short distance, closed with the hostile invader and killed him with rifle fire. While voluntarily delivering an important message to two company tank commanders later that night, he was mortally wounded by a burst from an enemy weapon as he ran across an unprotected area covered by intense hostile machine-gun fire. His courageous initiative and indomitable fighting spirit in the face of strong enemy opposition reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Levasseur and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.