The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Gerald D. Bert, Jr. (MCSN: 276793), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company A, First Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, on 22 November 1943. With his platoon pinned down by shattering machine gun fire emanating from a strongly fortified hostile pillbox, Sergeant Bert voluntarily left his position of comparative safety in a valiant effort to wipe out the resistance and, boldly crawling through the enemy’s incessant shellfire to the entrance of the entrenchment, hurled hand grenades into the strong point, neutralizing the fire and enabling the advance to continue. By his daring initiative, his indomitable fighting spirit and dauntless perseverance at great risk to his life, Sergeant Bert contributed materially to the success of an extremely perilous mission and his zealous devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.