The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Willard D. Martin (MCSN: 819527), United States Marine Corps Reserve, 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. Observing an enemy emplacement which was holding up the advance of his platoon, Private First Class Martin advanced to the hostile position and, firing as he ran from shell hole to shell hole, braved enemy grenades to destroy the occupants of the position with his rifle. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Martin and the United States Naval Service.