Ernest Nelson Chennault

1st Lieutenant, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 48443 (June 23, 1950)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Ernest N. Chennault (MCSN: 0-19995), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Leader of a Combat Engineer Platoon of the Fifth Engineer Battalion, FIFTH Marine Division, attached to Company H, Third Battalion, Twenty-sixth Marines, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 2 March 1945.
Engaged in blowing up Japanese caves and heavy gun emplacements when a rifle platoon became pinned down by hostile positions to its front, First Lieutenant Chennault led a group of his engineers through heavy enemy fire to the assistance of the platoon. After personally destroying several caves in the front lines with explosives, he placed himself in the line of riflemen and opened fire on the Japanese in order to cover wounded men and the litter bearers engaged in evacuating them. When one litter team was forced to cross and exposed area, First Lieutenant Chennault accompanied them and protected them from enemy fire. His courageous initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.