The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Charles H. Kirkham (MCSN: 0-35495), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Tank Platoon Leader of Company B, Third Tank Battalion, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 1 March 1945. Early in the afternoon, Second Lieutenant Kirkham led his platoon against strongly-emplaced enemy positions in advance of supporting infantry troops. When his tank was rendered inoperative by hostile antitank demolition personnel during the ensuing action, he courageously remained in the tank with his gunner and, while one crewman was evacuating two wounded members, continued to fire on the Japanese. Despite loss of radio contact and lack of close-in infantry support, he maintained effective fire until all the ammunition was expended and, during a twenty minute period, succeeded in destroying three emplaced enemy tanks, three ammunition trucks, several machine gun positions and numerous enemy personnel, finally abandoning the tank only five minutes before it was completely destroyed by hostile demolition charges. His outstanding courage and perseverance in the face of grave danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.