The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Craig B. Leman (MCSN: 0-41941), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Rifle Platoon Leader of Company H, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 8 March 1945. After the tremendous explosion of a Japanese position and intense small arms fire from the enemy had caused most of his platoon and the adjacent platoon to become casualties, Second Lieutenant Leman unhesitatingly exposed himself to the enemy fire to rally his men and, organizing all available troops in the area, succeeded in grouping the remnants of three platoons and pressed forward the attack. By his aggressive actions in renewing the attack, he prevented the Japanese from launching a counterattack against a very weak spot in the lines. Although wounded in the action, he refused evacuation until his units were dug in for the night and a new leader had arrived. His resolute spirit and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.