The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Charles W. Henning (MCSN: 0-30342), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Leader of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 28 February 1945. With his platoon assigned the right half of the company sector during an advance against well-entrenched hostile troops defending a strategic hill, Second Lieutenant Henning courageously led his men in an aggressive attack in the face of fierce enemy mortar and machine gun fire. Although the units on the left and right of the company zone of action were halted, he boldly led his platoon one thousand yards forward in attempts to seize the hill and, when his advance was twice repulsed, quickly organized a third attack which resulted in the securing of the hill and the capturing of one 47-mm. anti-tank gun and six 25-mm. dual-purpose weapons. By his tactical skill, aggressive fighting spirit and devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant Henning aided materially in enabling adjacent units to advance without opposition and his conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.