The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Bernard J. Helvick (MCSN: 919085), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as an Automatic Rifleman in a platoon of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 27 February 1945. In a bold attempt to frustrate the efforts of a group of hostile riflemen who were slowly working their way toward a supporting tank stranded because of a blown off track, Corporal Helvick raced forward, reaching the tank while the enemy were still forty yards away. In the face of heavy mortar fire falling in the vicinity, he issued the necessary orders for the withdrawal of the tank crew and then set up his automatic rifle, taking under fire the approaching riflemen. Despite a barrage of hand grenades thrown by the Japanese in an effort to dislodge him from its position, he remained until the tank crew reached friendly troops, meanwhile annihilating three of the enemy before returning to his platoon. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.