Thomas, Ralph Wallace, HM3

                                         NAVY CROSS 

                                             PHM3C

                           RALPH WALLACE THOMAS 

CITATION:

   The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Pharmacist Mate Third Class Ralph Thomas-(NSN: 6244741), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicous devotion to duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman attached to a Rifle Company of the Fourth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima on 9 March 1945. While attached to the rifle company, Pharmacist Mate Third Class Thomas distinguished himself by his courage, quick thinking, and coolness. While traeting a wounded man in a foxhole, an enemy grenade was thrown into the hole. Ignoring his own safety, he stood on the grenade, thereby taking the full force of the explosion, suffering painful and crippling wounds as a result. His courageous conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Unites States Naval Service.