The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Carl H. Leidecker (MCSN: 516414), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Battery F, Second Battalion, Fourteenth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, during operations against enemy Japanese forces on Tinian, Mariana Islands, on 24 July 1944. When an ammunition dump suffered a direct hit from an enemy shell, Private First Class Leidecker fearlessly left the safety of his gun pit and, despite hostile mortar fire and the possibility of an explosion, worked tirelessly until the raging fire had been extinguished, thereby saving the lives of many of his comrades and a large portion of the ammunition. His initiative, courage and grave concern for the safety of others reflect the highest credit on Private First Class Leidecker and the United States Naval Service.