The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Jack W. Coen (MCSN: 418540), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Platoon Sergeant of Company G, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands on 2 and 45 May 1945. Unhesitatingly assuming command of the platoon when its leader was seriously wounded during a heavy enemy night counterattack, Sergeant Coen fearlessly exposed himself to heavy hostile automatic weapons and rifle fire to direct platoon more effectively in repelling the attack which resulted in the destruction of more than fifty Japanese. Painfully wounded in the chest and shoulder on 5 May in an attack on strongly-entrenched enemy positions under heavy hostile automatic weapons and mortar fire, he refused evacuation and leading his platoon in an assault on the enemy positions killed many hostile troops and captured the objective. His outstanding leadership and courageous devotion to duty in the face of Japanese fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.