The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant John R. Gilbo (MCSN: 0-26565), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while attached to Marine Service Squadron THIRTY-THREE, Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-THREE, and serving as Air Base Fire Marshall of Kadena Airfield, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, from 8 May to 30 June, 1945. When Japanese phosphorous bombs started fires east of Kadena Airstrip on the evening of 24 May, First Lieutenant Gilbo rushed to a pile of exploding ammunition on which one of the incendiary bombs had landed. Although the Airfield was under attack and antiaircraft fire was bursting directly overhead, he succeeded in extinguishing the dangerous blaze and led his crew in seeking out other serious fires. In the Second Marines Aircraft Wing area at Yontan Airfield where huge fires had been started, he was subjected to hostile shellfire, exploding ammunition and, on two occasions, to direct fire from Japanese troops who were annihilated by his crew or his own fire. Courageous and aggressive in the performance of duty, he was responsible for saving many pilots from serious injury or death as a result of crash fires, and for saving airplanes and ammunition which were critically needed at this stage of the Campaign and reflect credit upon First Lieutenant Gilbo and the United States Naval Service.