Navy Cross

Awarded for actions during the World War II

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Ivan Louis Munns, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman with a Marine Rifle Company of the Second Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 2 March 1945.

Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Munns rendered successful first aid to four wounded men who lay in an exposed position under heavy machine gun fire. Immediately after completing this treatment and moving the men to safety he asked for protective fire so that he could go thirty yards ahead of the front lines to attend another wounded man. He was advised not to go but with utter disregard for his own safety, he went to the wounded man. Pharmacist's Mate Munn's actions throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific:Serial 35241 (August 14, 1945)
Action Date: March 2, 1945
Service: Navy
Rank: Pharmacist's Mate Third Class
Company: Corpsman (Attached)
Battalion: 2d Battalion Regiment: 26th Marines
Division: 5th Marine Division

Munns, Ivan Louis, HM3