The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Alva A. Burkett (MCSN: 435773), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company I, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, on 23 November 1943. With a friendly tank dispatched to blast strongly fortified hostile emplacements which were retarding the advance of his company eastward on Betio, Private First Class Burkett voluntarily exposed himself to shattering cross-fire from supporting enemy light machine guns and other weapons in an attempt to correct the line of tank fire when shells began falling in a sector occupied by his company’s assault platoon. Fearlessly charging forward through one hundred and fifty yards of withering shellfire, he boarded the vehicle and pounded vigorously on the turret, attracting the attention of the crew and directing their fire against the proper targets, thereby averting many casualties to our troops. His daring initiative, outstanding fortitude and grave concern for the safety of others at great risk to his own life served as an inspiration to his comrades and reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Burkett and the United States Naval Service.