The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Gunnery Sergeant Earl W. Griffith (MCSN: 276301), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Gunnery Sergeant with Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-Third Marines, Fourth Maine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 26 February 1945. When the advance of his company was held up by an enemy gun emplacement firing canister, Gunnery Sergeant Griffith crawled forward of his lines alone across open terrain through withering hostile machine-gun fire, located the gun and killing the enemy crew. Rather than wait for his company to advance to his position, he attempted to rejoin them to assist in the attack but was killed by Japanese cross-fire before reaching his objective. His courageous fighting spirit and utter disregard for his own personal safety reflect the highest credit upon Gunnery Sergeant Griffith and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.