The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Platoon Sergeant Berman C. Shrader (MCSN: 405645), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 24 February 1945. Assuming command when his Platoon Leader was killed, Platoon Sergeant Shrader led his platoon in the face of intense machine-gun fire in a determined attack across Motoyama Airfield Number Two. When forced to halt the attack due to constantly increasing casualties, he organized a line of defense and supervised the evacuation of the wounded and, when the position became untenable , personally remained despite his own serious wounds to cover the withdrawal of his men. His leadership, resolute courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.