The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Edward I. Kastern (MCSN: 0-13804), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Wire Platoon Leader of Signal Company, Headquarters Battalion, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Mariana Islands, from 21 July to 10 August 1944. Landing with the Division Advance Message Center under heavy mortar fire, First Lieutenant Kastern fearlessly carried one of his wounded men over approximately one hundred yards of the fire-swept beach to an aid station before proceeding to the Division Command Post where he supervised the installation of the wire system. Subsequently locating the various subordinate command posts, he effected the installation of all wire communications by the early afternoon of D-Day. Undaunted by the enemy’s savage tactics when two enlisted men were struck down by hostile mortar shells falling in the vicinity of the Division switchboard on the morning of 22 July, he effectively rendered first aid to the fallen Marines and supervised their prompt evacuation despite the grave personal risk. Consistently alert in his performance of duty, First Lieutenant Kastern skillfully and expeditiously repaired the damage done to vital telephone lines in the command net following a furious Japanese counterattack and, by his persevering efforts and unfaltering technical ability in the face of continuous opposition, maintained the wire communication system at the peak of operational efficiency during critical periods of the action. His alert initiative and gallant fortitude throughout the bitter hostilities were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.