The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Ralph Hess, Jr. (MCSN: 914182), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as an Acting Rifle Squad Leader of Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Twenty-eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 24 March 1945. When his platoon was suddenly immobilized by rifle fire from four enemy caves to the immediate front, Private First Class Hess prepared several demolition charges and voluntarily worked his way twenty-five yards forward of the front lines, reaching the caves despite severe enemy rifle fire. After using all his charges to demolish two of the caves he returned to the lines for more and again traversed the hazardous area to destroy the last two emplacements. Discovering that the charges were not large enough to eliminate the third cave, he again returned to the lines for more explosives and, on the next trip forward, finished the work of sealing the remaining position. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.