The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant James P. Mariades (MCSN: 0-38439), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Leader of Company K, Third Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 21 February 1945. Crossing an open field under extremely heavy concentrations of mortar, machine-gun and small-arms fire, Second Lieutenant Mariades led his platoon in the destruction of three enemy pillboxes and in the annihilation of numerous well-entrenched hostile forces, personally killing four of the Japanese. By his tactical skill and courageous leadership, Second Lieutenant Mariades contributed to the success of the mission, and his devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.