The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant John C. Oliver (MCSN: 288114), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Rifle Platoon Leader of Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 3 March 1945. With his company facing heavy machine-gun and mortar fire from strongly fortifies positions, Gunnery Sergeant Oliver maneuvered part of his platoon to place covering fire on an emplacement to his front and, despite heavy fire from hostile positions on both flanks, courageously led the remainder of his men forward, thereby destroying the fortification which contained several Japanese riflemen. Although his platoon sergeant and two squad leaders were wounded and units on his right and left failed to move up abreast of his men, he reorganized his platoon under heavy enemy mortar fire and, by his leadership, enabled his men to hold the ground they had won. His initiative, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.