The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Charles A. Mankin (MCSN: 498307), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Group Leader of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Setting out to silence an enemy pillbox whose fire was holding up the advance of his platoon, Corporal Mankin proceeded ahead of his platoon and circled to the rear of the pillbox. Although under heavy hostile small-arms fire, he stood up and fired his rifle at the enemy in the pillbox, killing all of the occupants. Although wounded during this action, he continued fighting until his mission was successfully completed. His leadership and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.