The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Buchard Eberhart (MCSN: 511014), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, First Marine Force, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Kume Shima, Ryukyu Islands, 5 July 1945. Abandoning the vehicle in which he and two companions were riding when they were ambushed by hostile machine-gun fire, Corporal Eberhart courageously assaulted the enemy position alone and, although wounded by the hostile fire, killed a member of the Japanese crew and damaged the machine gun with accurate submachine-gun fire. Then, rushing the position, he annihilated the remaining member of the crew who was attempting to put the piece back into action and captured the Japanese weapon. By his determination, fortitude and initiative, Corporal Eberhart upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.