The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Charles R. Puckett (MCSN: 0-41390), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of a rifle company of the First Battalion, Twenty-eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 18 March 1945. When all of his rifle platoon leaders and medical corpsmen were wounded and his company’s advance was delayed by a heavy mortar barrage and intense machine gun fire from a fanatically defended hostile pill box, Captain Puckett risked his life to move among the platoons along the entire length of the company front administering first aid to several casualties under fire and organizing his men for the renewal of the attack. Although intense mortar and machine gun fire was directed upon his entire line he moved forward of his troops and personally led his men in an assault upon the pill box, destroying it and annihilating all of its occupants. After reorganizing his company Captain Puckett directed his men in an attack which resulted in the seizure of the enemy held ridge. His fearless leadership, ability and courageous actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.