The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Thomas G. Eldredge (MCSN: 0-28378), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Executive Officer of Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 7 May 1945. When the success of an attack by his company on a strongly defended ridge was endangered by heavy casualties, Second Lieutenant Eldredge volunteered to reorganize his company and, making his way forward through heavy flanking machine-gun fire, established contact between the depleted units and led a successful assault on powerful enemy positions despite intense enemy crossfire. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.