The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Jacob D. Fortenberry, Jr. (MCSN: 0-15179), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while attached to Company L, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa Gilbert Islands, on 23 November 1943. Encountering countless heavily fortified Japanese pillboxes and concrete and log emplacements while advancing across his assigned area on the south beach shore of Betio, First Lieutenant Fortenberry valiantly led his platoon through eighteen hundred yards of fierce hostile resistance and, pressing home repeated brilliantly executed attacks, contributed to the ultimate seizure of the objective and to the securing of the island, accounting for one hundred and fifty enemy troops during the bitter hostilities with the loss of only one of his own men. With one of our tanks assigned the mission of wiping out a strongly constructed pillbox, he immediately led a squad around the flank to the rear of the position as the enemy retreated through a back entrance and, maneuvering his unit far beyond our front lines and through incessant hostile shellfire, succeeded in blocking their escape, thereby enabling our forward elements to advance. His forceful and determined leadership, daring aggressiveness and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds were essential factors in the success of the Tarawa Campaign and reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Fortenberry and the United States Naval Service.