The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant J. Gene Hochfelder (MCSN: 0-24259), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Battalion Adjutant and as Commanding Officer of Headquarters Company, First Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 22 February 1945. When enemy forces had outflanked the Battalion positions by counter landing and infiltration and were descending upon the Battalion near area installations, First Lieutenant Hochfelder voluntarily organized a body of men for the defense of the embattled areas. Personally killing two of the Japanese during the night, he directed his unit in cornering the remainder in a large sulphur pit and then assisted in their annihilation the following mooring. His courageous leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.