The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Hyrum D. Mathews (MCSN: 817143), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad Leader of Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. When several mutually supporting pillboxes held up his squad on the beach, Corporal Mathews realized that these positions must be neutralized before the advance could continue. Running ahead of his unit over the barren volcanic sand through accurate enemy machine-gun and rifle fire to bear on the hostile installations and succeeded in silencing the enemy positions. Although seriously wounded by Japanese machine-gun fire, he continued to support the advance of his squad until he collapsed from his wounds. By his exemplary courage and initiative, he contributed greatly to the success of his unit in reaching its objective, and his unselfish devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.