The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Edwin A. Burgdorf (MCSN: 263533), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Reconnaissance Sergeant in a Mortar Platoon of Headquarters Company, First Battalion, Twenty-eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 February to 26 March 1945. Courageously performing vital reconnaissance work in the face of enemy observation and fire, Sergeant Burgdorf moved freely along the front lines on numerous occasions during this period to obtain and report information concerning the disposition of both friendly and hostile forces. On 14 March, he led a detail of snipers into position and attacked a group of the enemy, personally annihilating six Japanese. On 16 March, he went to the aid of a wounded Marine, single-handedly moved him from a position which was exposed to heavy enemy fire, and thereafter supervised his evacuation. His initiative and courage under fire reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Burgdorf and the United States Naval Service.