The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class David C. Peurifoy, Jr. (MCSN: 534401), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a mortar man of Headquarters Company, Second Battalion, Twenty-eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 21 February 1945. When his platoon leader found the platoon’s right flank exposed, Private First Class Peurifoy volunteered to try and make contact with the unit on their right despite darkness and hostile enemy snipers in the area. Attempting to locate friendly troops he came upon a large group of the enemy forming for a counter attack and infiltration through the gap in the front lines. As some of the hostile troops had already moved into position between him and his unit, he exposed himself to hostile rifle fire and hand grenades to make his way back to his area and warn his platoon leader of the forthcoming attack. Placing himself in an advantageous gap in the lines, Private First Class Peurifoy expertly maneuvered and accurately directed the fire and aided materially in repulsing the enemy counter attack by personally accounting for fourteen of the sixty enemy dead. His bold initiative, indomitable courage and unselfish devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.