The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Thomas E. Lambe (MCSN: 344656), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Acting Rifle Platoon Sergeant of Headquarters and Service Company, Twenty-eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 16 March 1945. Assigned the difficult task of filling a gap in the front lines at night, Sergeant Lambe led his men to their objective over unfamiliar terrain and, despite a terrific enemy barrage, succeeded in placing his troops in strategic positions and in repelling at least seven attempts by the enemy to penetrate our lines. Throughout the night, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense hostile fire to move among his men, reassuring them, distributing hand grenades and directing machine-gun and rifle fire in a bitter struggle to disrupt the attempted break-through. By his initiative, leadership and courage, he aided in the annihilation of over thirty Japanese and in holding a vital road until relieved by flanking troops. His heroic devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.