The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain John W. Phillips (MCSN: 0-11594), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Headquarters Company, Second Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands from 6 to 12 March 1945. On the night of 7 March when intense enemy mortar barrage inflicted heavy casualties on a rifle company wounding the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer, Captain Phillips assumed command of this company and despite darkness continued enemy shelling and his own unfamiliarity with the personnel of the company and the ground it occupied went forward rapidly reorganized the unit and strengthened its position. When a numerically superior enemy force counter attacked his company’s defensive sector which was located on terrain difficult to defend he spurred his men to repulse the enemy with heavy lines. By his tactical skill and efficient leadership he contributed materially to the success of his unit at a most critical stage of the operation and his courageous devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.