The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Paul John Parker (MCSN: 455263), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a tank liaison guide serving with Company A, Fourth Tank Battalion, FOURTH Marine Division during action on enemy Japanese held Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 19 February 1945. Landing in the third assault wave on the morning of D-Day, Corporal Parker conducted a reconnaissance of the beach and then, when the seventh wave arrived led two platoons of tanks from their landing craft through a heavy concentration of machine gun, mortar and artillery fire and across heavily mined terrain to their assigned sectors. When they were held up by terrific fire from two pill boxes and a block house he walked out in front of the tanks and guided them through the mine fields. Then, firing his own weapon to keep the enemy down, he proceeded to within five feet of the two pill boxes, pointed out their most vulnerable spots and enabled the tanks to destroy them. Discovering that tank fire would not destroy the blockhouse, he returned to the beach for a flame thrower tank and was guiding it back to the Japanese emplacement when he fell mortally wounded. His heroism, daring initiative and unwavering devotion to duty under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.