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THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting
the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to

ASSAULT TROOPS OF THE FIFTH AMPHIBIOUS CORPS, REINFORC[ED,]
UNITED STATES FLEET MARINE FORCE

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

"For extraordinary heroism in action during the seizure of
enemy Japanese-held Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, February 19 to 28 1945.
Landing against resistance which rapidly increased in fury as the Japa-
nese pounded the beaches with artillery, rocket and mortar fire, the
Assault Troops of the FIFTH Amphibious Corps inched ahead through
shifting black volcanic sands, over heavily mined terrain, toward a
garrison of jagged cliffs barricaded by an interlocking system of caves,
pillboxes and blockhouses commanding all approaches. Often driven
back with terrific losses in fierce hand-to-hand combat, the Assault
Troops repeatedly hurled back the enemy's counterattacks to regain and
hold lost positions, and continued the unrelenting drive to high ground
and Motoyama Airfield No. 1, captured by the end of the second day. By
their individual acts of heroism and their unfailing teamwork, these gal-
lant officers and men fought against their own battle-fatigue and shock
to advance in the face of the enemy's fanatical resistance; they charged
each strongpoint, one by one, blasting out the hidden Japanese troops or
sealing them in; within four days they had occupied the southern part of
Motoyama Airfield No. 2; simultaneously they stormed the steep slopes
of Mount Suribachi to raise the United States Flag; and they seized the
strongly defended hills to silence guns commanding the beaches and in-
sure the conquest of Iwo Jima, a vital inner defense of the Japanese Em-
pire."

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