The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Charles T. Ireland, Jr. (MCSN: 0-13078), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as an Infantry Replacement Officer of Company F, Second Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Mariana Islands, from 15 June to 9 July 1944. Passing over unfamiliar terrain, First Lieutenant Ireland defied intense mortar and tank fire to contact a separated unit whose direction of attack was endangering the advance of his own battalion and, contacting the other unit commander, returned through the hall of fire to his own position. Later, when his battalion was pinned down by rifle and machine-gun fire, he worked his way through deadly barrages to the top of a precipitous cliff to report the situation to his battalion commander and, obtaining and directing covering fire, enabled his company to withdraw to the cliff lines above the sea to occupy a night defensive position that he had previously reconnoitered. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.