The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Marquys K. Cookson (MCSN: 453152), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Demolition Man of Headquarters and Service Company, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 9 March 1945. When his platoon’s advance was halted by heavy automatic fire from a pill box and two caves, Private First Class Cookson volunteered to move forward alone and rescue the emplacements with explosives. Crawling forward in the face of intense enemy fire he set his charge and destroyed the pill box and then sealed one of the caves. By his courageous action he destroyed an estimated thirty five of the enemy and, enabling the platoon to advance, contributed materially to the destruction of the remaining crew. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Cookson and the United States Naval Service.