The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant John T. Casey (MCSN: 0-16778), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Landing with his company in the face of severe hostile artillery and mortar fire during the initial landing on the enemy-held beach, First Lieutenant Casey immediately reorganized his command and led them forward toward Motoyama Airfield Number One. When his company’s advance was deterred by machine-gun fire from a pillbox at the southern tip of the airstrip, he fearlessly made his way forward of the front lines through the heavy fire and skillfully placed a demolition charge in the aperture of the pillbox which caused complete destruction of the hostile position and enabled his company and other elements of the battalion to move forward across the airfield and the dominating ridge line in the center of the island. By his initiative, fortitude and courageous leadership, First Lieutenant Casey contributed materially to the success of this assault landing and his conduct upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.