The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Arthur W. Zimmerman (MCSN: 0-18287), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Leader of Company A, First 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 pinned down by accurate and heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from an enemy strong point one hundred yards forward, First Lieutenant Zimmerman realized that the Company Commander had been killed and, when unable to contact the Executive Officer, assumed command of the company on the front line. After reorganizing his undermanned unit, he courageously exposed himself to the rain of enemy fire to move his company forward. Calling for a tank, he guided it to the front lines by walking before it and, pointing out the hostile emplacement to the tank, aided materially in destroying the enemy position. Then, First Lieutenant Zimmerman led his company in an attack which annihilated the enemy to the front and resulted in a gain of several hundred yards for our forces. His fortitude, leadership and initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.