The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Samuel J. Sheppard (MCSN: 456357), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad leader of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 11 march 1945. When his squad had pushed ahead of the company lines and was suffering heavy casualties from intense enemy machine-gun fire while attempting to rejoin the company, Private First Class Sheppard unhesitatingly moved out and exposed himself to divert the fire from his men, thereby enabling his squad to withdraw to safety. Although painfully wounded during this action, Private First Class Sheppard refused evacuation and remained to lead his squad. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.