The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Gerald J. Schreur (MCSN: 990583), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Machine Gunner in a platoon of Company I, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 19 May 1945. Voluntarily moving forward with two other Marines in an attempt to knock out an enemy machine-gun position which had halted his platoon’s fierce assault upon a strongly defended hostile ridge, Private First Class Schreur braved the shattering mortar, machine-gun and small-arms barrages to reach a vantage point for delivering effective fire against the fanatic Japanese, Grimly determined to eliminate the hostile strong point, he dauntlessly moved out alone to a more favorable position and, setting up his weapon, gallantly poured a devastating stream of fire into the enemy emplacement until he was killed by a savage burst of machine-gun fire. Private First Class Schreur’s initiative, indomitable fighting spirit and devotion to duty served as an inspiration to his comrades and reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.