The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Fred M. Ferentz (MCSN: 346568), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company D, Second Battalion, Twenty-eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 4 March 1945. When a heavy concentration of machine-gun and rifle fire pinned down his platoon, Private First Class Ferentz volunteered to cross the open terrain that was being swept by enemy crossfire in order to guide a group of tanks forward. After finding the armored vehicles, he guided their advance despite heavy hostile mortar fire which they attracted and, again moving out in the open across the fire-swept plain where his platoon was pinned down, observed and directed the tanks’ fire on the enemy machine gun positions. Passing through his own lines with the tanks, Private First Class Ferentz led them to the ridge which was his unit’s objective and enabled it to move out and take the position. His aggressive initiative, indomitable courage and unswerving devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.