The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Ralph C. Jeffers (MCSN: 825699), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Machine Gunner, serving with Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 4 March 1945. Realizing that his company was in an almost untenable position and finding no suitable field of fire for his machine gun, Private Jeffers quickly placed his weapon on a particularly precarious rocky ledge in order to deliver overhead fire in support of his front line. Constantly imperiled by heavy rifle fire and later by fire from a Japanese dual-purpose gun, he resolutely held this position throughout the night and at daybreak dispersed approximately fifty of the enemy who were massed for a counterattack. His courage, tenacious devotion to duty and indomitable fighting spirit enabled his company to accomplish its mission and reflect great credit upon Private Jeffers and the United States Naval Service.