The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Roger A. Dumont (MCSN: 807742), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Rifle Grenadier of Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Observing that machine-gun fire from an enemy pillbox fifty yards away had temporarily halted the company’s assault, Private Firs Class Dumont crawled under intense hostile mortar, artillery, rocket and small-arms fire to within twenty-five yards of the position. After an unsuccessful attempt to throw several hand grenades through the ports of the Japanese pillbox, he crawled twenty-five yards to a fellow Marine to obtain three rifle grenades and, returning to his former position, fired the three grenades into the ports of the pillbox. By his initiative and unselfish courage, he succeeded in silencing the hostile emplacement, and his devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.


