The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Charles H. Fischer (MCSN: 0-13018), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Executive Officer of the Fifth Engineer Battalion, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 25 March 1945. Having supervised the placing and detonation of a twenty-five hundred pound explosive charge which breached the roof of a heavy enemy fortification, Captain Fischer was engaged in examination of the structure when one of his men, who had entered through the opening in the top to inspect the interior for passages leading from the main chamber, was wounded and pinned down by enemy fire from within. Heedless of the danger involved, Captain Fischer led a two-man rescue party down into the fortification and, after assisting in the rescue of the wounded man, personally covered the withdrawal of the rescue party. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.