The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel James Taul (MCSN: 0-6182), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Twenty-fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division during operations against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands from 21 February to 17 March 1945. When the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and Operations Officer of an adjacent battalion became casualties on 21 February, Lieutenant Colonel Taul assumed command of that unit and with the enemy delivering intense fire from well-concealed positions into our advance ranks, courageously proceeded to the front lines. Moving from platoon to platoon, he ably reorganized his depleted Battalion and then in the face of the continuing enemy fire, rallied his troops to move three hundred yards forward in an attack against the strongly-defended cliff line on the right flank of the Division, thereby consolidating and building a vital flank of the landing force against hostile counterattack and infiltration. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and devotion to duty throughout many days of combat, Lieutenant Colonel Taul upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.