The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Ray Wiznak (MCSN: 353661), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a rifleman of Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 27 February 1945. When his squad’s advance against a strongly entrenched enemy force was held up by intense machine gun fire from a pill box to the immediate front, Private First Class Wiznak voluntarily advanced to within ten yards of the pill box and neutralized it with hand grenades. Seriously wounded during the action he refused to leave his squad until ordered to retire to the rear for medical attention. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Wiznak and the United States Naval Service.