The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Albert R. Marchando (MCSN: 408494), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Wire Section Chief of the Third Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 February to 16 March 1945. Voluntarily going out to trouble-shoot on wire lines, Corporal Marchando personally supervised the repairs of these lines many times during the operation and, during a heavy enemy mortar barrage on the night of 19 February, went to the front line companies to repair a wire during a critical moment when wire communications was vital to the smooth operation of the Battalion. Handicapped by the loss of two wiremen by hostile fire on this mission, he continued until all lines were in operation. During the night of 9 March, Corporal Marchando lead a wire team which repaired three company lines that had been cut by enemy fire. While engaged in this dangerous mission, he encountered a Japanese patrol lying in ambush and, engaging it immediately, killed two and put the rest to flight. Subsequently reorganizing his team, he continue to repair the lines until communications were reestablished. His leadership, courage and determined devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.