The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Lewis A. Kirsch (MCSN: 271919), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad Leader in a platoon of Company C, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 10 May 1945. Boldly leading his squad across a wide valley under heavy enemy mortar and machine-gun fire which wounded three of his men and pinned the squad down for the entire day, Sergeant Kirsch dauntlessly proceeded alone under the continuing fire to reconnoiter a route of evacuation and late in the afternoon succeeded in leading his squad back from the valley without further casualties. With the aid of a smoke screen, he carried out one of the wounded men despite vicious cross-fire from Japanese machine guns, twice repeating his hazardous trip over the fire-swept terrain and each time bearing a casualty to safety. His courageous initiative and daring tactics in the face of overwhelming odds reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Kirsch and the United States Naval Service.