The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class John I. Kilner, Jr. (MCSN: 548428), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as an Automatic Rifleman of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. When his platoon was pinned down by accurate fire from a concrete strong point, Private First Class Kilner voluntarily crawled forward and, despite the intense barrage, directed a burst of fire into the port of the hostile emplacement. Closing in for the final assault, he threw several hand grenades at the objective, killing all occupants of the emplacement and contributing materially to his unit’s advance in that sector. By his courage and devotion to duty, he upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.