The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Charles J. Ahern (MCSN: 0-13823), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company F, Second Battalion, Twenty-Third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 7 March 1945. When a number of enemy machine guns concealed in difficult terrain held up the advance of his company, Captain Ahern proceeded ahead of his front lines and directed effective tank fire and enabled his company to continue the assault. Although painfully wounded while exposing himself for over an hour to concentrated Japanese fire to accomplish this mission, he resolutely continued his command until he had succeeded in destroying the opposition. His skillful leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.