The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal James R. Owen (MCSN: 484653), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity wile serving as Squad leader of Company B, Fifth Engineer Battalion, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 February to 26 March 1945. On 14 March when his squad was assigned the mission of clearing a hostile minefield one hundred yards in advance of friendly front lines to facilitate the movement of tanks, Corporal Owen refused to risk the lives of his entire squad and cleared the minefield himself with the aid of one other man, thereby enabling the tanks and infantry to advance and contributing materially to the defeat of the enemy. On 23 March when he encountered heavy Japanese mortar fire, which he discovered was coming from a cave, he skillfully organized and led an assault on the enemy within and, after silencing the fire, sealed the cave with demolitions. His courage, initiative and devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest tradition of the United States Naval Service.