The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Ralph W. Tufts (MCSN: 808111), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Headquarters Company, Third Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 19 February 1945. When his company was held up by heavy machine gun and mortar fire, Private First Class Tufts contacted a flame throwing tank for cleaning out the pocket of resistance and leading the tank on to an airstrip, pointed out numerous pill boxes and block houses from which intense fire was being directed on our troops. As the enemy were forced out by the flames he quickly killed all that escaped the machine guns of the tank accounting with his carbine and pistol for thirteen of the Japanese. His initiative, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.