The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Rheal G. Bissonnette (MCSN: 309964), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Noticing an officer and enlisted man who were near exhaustion in the water after their landing craft had been sunk by enemy action, Sergeant Bissonnette left his shelter and moved through heavy enemy mortar, artillery and sniper fire to the scene. Rescuing one man, he returned immediately into the rough surf and saved the second. Later the same day, he voluntarily went to the aid of a wounded man whom he dragged to safety. His initiative, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.