The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Lauren H. Batty (MCSN: 0-41642), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as an Artillery Forward Observer of Battery B, First Battalion, Twelfth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 3 and 4 March 1945. When his Acting Company Commander became a casualty on the night of 3 March, during an attack on his Command Post by approximately forty infiltrating Japanese, Second Lieutenant Batty immediately took charge and skillfully organized the small force of seventeen men at the Command Post. Constantly braving intense enemy machine gun and rifle fire, he skillfully directed the defenders in the use of their carbines, three 80-mm. mortars and a flame thrower and, by his gallant leadership, saved the Command Post from almost certain annihilation by a numerically superior Japanese force. When relieved by another company the following morning, he effected an orderly withdrawal to a reserve area and set up a perimeter defense. His tactical skill and courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.