The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain John R. Jones (MCSN: 0-11504), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company A, Fifth Tank Battalion, FIFTH Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 20 February 1945. Leading his tanks during an attack on heavily-defended hostile positions, Captain Jones noticed that due to confusion and a disruption in communications our infantry had not advanced to seize the advantage his tank company had gained. Placing his second in command in charge, he dismounted from his vehicle and made his way a distance of one hundred and fifty yards back to friendly front line positions despite an intense barrage of artillery and mortar shells as well as small-arms fire from by-passed Japanese infantrymen. By contacting the infantry commander, he succeeded in effecting a coordinated tank-infantry attack which resulted in the first sizeable gains since the initial landing, and in the annihilation of one hundred and fifty Japanese and the destruction of many enemy emplacements. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.