The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Frederick W. Peterson, Jr. (MCSN: 808026), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a squad leader in a platoon of Company L, Third Battalion, Twenty-fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division during action on enemy Japanese held Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 13 March 1945. When his platoon was under an intense barrage of enemy mortar and sniper fire, Corporal Peterson voluntarily exposed himself to move forward of his squad and cover the evacuation of a wounded Marine. Although seriously wounded he refused to withdraw from his exposed position and continuing to fire upon the caves from which sniper fire was inflicting heavy casualties on his platoon, succeeded in killing fiver of the Japanese before he was killed. His extreme courage and outstanding devotion to duty in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.