The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Leonard J. Therriault (MCSN: 808760), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Machine Gunner of Company L, Third Battalion, Twenty-fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 19 February 1945. Although exposed to intense hostile mortar and machine gun fire after voluntarily leaving a place of safety, Private First Class Therriault worked his way forward to the weapon of a wounded machine gunner and although severely wounded during this hazardous mission immediately put the gun into action against hostile pillboxes which had inflected heavy casualties on his company. When wounded again, he refused evacuation and continued firing on these positions until reinforcements arrived to destroy them. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.