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Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to John B. Babich (873272), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company C, Fifth Engineer Battalion, FIFTH Marine Division, during action against the enemy on Japanese-held Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 22 February 1945. When heavy fire from an enemy cave at the base of Mount Suribachi disrupted the advance of his company and harassed our men in the rear areas, Private First Class Babich volunteered to go ahead of the Infantry lines and try to silence the emplacement. Undaunted by the fact that the cave was in the walls of a cliff forty feet high and that he was exposed to heavy hostile fire from all directions, he approached the base of the cliff and cautiously climbed to the top. Despite the extreme danger, he carefully placed a heavy demolition charge over the cave and returned to his original position. Discovering that the charge had a defective fuse, he repeated his first daring mission, setting off a second charge which sealed the mouth of the cave and trapped the Japanese inside. His outstanding courage, daring initiative and unwavering devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Babich and the United States Naval Service.
Commander in Chief, Pacific Forces:
Serial 35303 (October 25, 1945)
Home Town: Witherbee, New York
