The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Robert E. Stenberg (MCSN: 0-38507), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Leader of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-second Marines, SIXTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 11 May 1945. Despite heavy enemy machine-gun, mortar and artillery fire, Second Lieutenant Stenberg crawled forward of his own lines to an observation point where he was exposed to the fire of both the enemy and a supporting 37-mm. gun platoon. In order to communicate with these 37-mm. gun positions and direct their supporting fire, he repeatedly crawled from his observation post through an open area to a telephone. By his courageous action, he was directly responsible for the destruction of three hostile pillboxes and the driving of the enemy from several other positions in caves and behind natural cover. Under his accurate fire direction, his platoon gained a fire superiority which made it possible to deploy tanks and troops in a successful attack on the position. His skill in fire direction, fortitude and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Stenberg and the United States Naval Service.