The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Vernon J. H. Waters (MCSN: 854581), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Acting Demolition Sergeant while serving with Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 28 February 1945. Determined to neutralize the devastating enemy fire which was inflicting heavy casualties on his company, Corporal Waters courageously volunteered to advance and destroy two mutually supporting Japanese pill boxes. Fearlessly disregarding the blasting fury of the hostile barrage, he worked his way across thirty yards of open; fire swept terrain and, charging furiously, destroyed one emplacement while under direct fire from the other. Then, advancing on the second Japanese fortification in the face of savagely continued of opposition, he carefully placed and detonated a demolition charge thereby destroying the second pill box. Instantly rushed by three of the enemy from a near-by cave, he hurled a deadly grenade at the charging group and annihilated all three. Boldly aggressive in combat, Corporal Waters, by his dauntless valor and cool decision during a critical period of action, contributed materially to the advance of his unlit and his unwavering devotion to duty throughout upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.