The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Edward S. McDonald (MCSN: 0-14050), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company K, Third Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 25 February 1945. Assuming command of an adjacent rifle company shortly after the beginning of an attack, First Lieutenant McDonald worked his way forward and, although he was separated from this company by an area under heavy enemy mortar and rifle fire being delivered from a cliff seventy-five yards to his right front, made a reconnaissance of his front lines. After reorganizing his new company which was in a state of confusion from the intense Japanese shelling, he continued the attack and, despite hostile machine-gun and mortar fire from a cement pillbox and cave on his right flank, directed a tank in firing on these two emplacements, thereby successfully destroying them. Although his company had suffered severe casualties, he forced the attack and gained command of the heavily fortified sector on the Battalion front. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.