The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class George H. Mack (MCSN: 831360), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Stretcher-Bearer of the Second Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 15 March 1945, with the help of three others, Private First Class Mack was carrying a casualty on a stretcher from the front lines to the Battalion Air Station when they were suddenly subjected to intense hostile rifle and machine-gun fire which seriously wounded one of the stretcher-bearers. Carrying the wounded stretcher-bearer to a shell hole, he succeeded in transporting the casualty with the two remaining men over two hundred yards of open terrain to safety. Although nearly exhausted from his exertions, he voluntarily returned immediately to evacuate the wounded stretcher-bearer whom he had left in a shell hole. Despite enemy fire from several different directions, he went back, picked up the wounded man and carried him to safety although he was unable to run with his heavy load and narrowly escaped being hit by Japanese bullets which passed on all sides of him. His initiative, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.