| Letter from U.S. Marine Corps. regarding Hillery Windham | ||||||||
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United States Marine Corps.
Headquarters Fleet Marine Pacific, San Francisco, Calif. In the name of the President of the United States, the Commanding General Fleet Marine Force takes pleasure in awarding the Silver Star to Cpl. Hillery Windham, for service set forth in the following citation; For conspicious gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Ammunitions Carrier in an anti tank unit, with a marine infantry battalion on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on February 19, 1945. When his gun commander became a casualty upon reaching the beach, Cpl. Windham unhesitating and completely unmindful of personal danger, assumed command and directed the movement of his thirty-seven millimeter gun through the volcanic sands of the beach to a position two hundred yards inland, despite heavy enemy artillery, mortar and machine gun fire, which was directed against his weapons and men, causing heavy casualties among his men, with one half of his crew available, although fully aware of his own peril while constantly exposed. Cpl. Windham moved cooly back and forth, designating targets. Supplying his gun with ammunition, while bringing extremely accurate fire to bear up on the slopes and face of Mount Suribachi, and aided the advance of the assualting infantry with covering fire at a time when supporting weapons were critically needed to establish the beach head. His cool courage, and untiring energy, and heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine and Naval Service.
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