The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Charles J. Nelson (MCSN: 0-31025), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Leader of Company C, First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ruykyu Islands, 17 June 1945. Observing, while leading an advance against heavy Japanese opposition, a wounded officer lying in an exposed position forward of friendly lines and subjected to heavy enemy sniper fire which rendered friendly troops unable to approach him, First Lieutenant Nelson unhesitatingly dismounted from his tank and, crawling through heavy hostile fire to the wounded man, carried him back to the tank. Then, continuing his advance, he skillfully sought out and destroyed with his tank several strong enemy positions, thereby enabling the advance to continue. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest tradition of the United States Naval Service.