The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Earl A. Coleman (MCSN: 360524), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company C, First Battalion, Eighteenth Marines, SECOND Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands on 20 November 1943. Landing on the heavily fortified beachhead with the first assault wave on D-Day, Private First Class Coleman immediately charged forward with his flame thrower despite the enemy’s shattering machine gun and rifle fire and pressing home his bold determined attacks neutralized three hostile strong points thereby enabling our troops to resume their advance. Continuing his same daring tactics he destroyed many additional Japanese emplacements in subsequent bitter engagements and in one action braved extremely heavy opposition to make three successive attacks against a reinforced concrete blockhouse effectively silencing the enemy fire for short periods of time and contributing materially to the sustained operations of our forces against the fanatic Japanese. His daring initiative indomitable fighting spirit and dauntless perseverance against tremendous odds served as an inspiration to others in the area and reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Coleman and the United States Naval Service.