The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain George Heiden (MCSN: 0-13957), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-ninth Marines, SIXTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands on 15 May 1945. Twice repelled by intense enemy fire as he led his company in an assault against a heavily defended enemy ridge in the Naha-Shuri Sector, Captain Heiden advanced upon the key position with his reserve platoon defying mortar, machine gun and rifle fire in an effort to capture this vital terrain. When the unit was again halted by devastating automatic fire, he unhesitatingly dashed ahead of the lines and, armed only with grenades, single-handedly destroyed an enemy machine gun which had been inflicting heavy casualties on his company, thus enabling his men to advance and secure the objective. Again braving hostile fire, he directed the evacuation of the wounded from a completely exposed position working until he himself was severely wounded and forced to be evacuated. Captain Heiden’s courage and fighting spirit in the face of enemy fire served as an inspiration to his men and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.