George E. Cire

2nd Lieutenant, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 42750
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant George E. Cire (MCSN: 0-39482), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Leader of Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands 19 February 1945.
Landing with the reserve company of an assault battalion Second Lieutenant Cire led his platoon forward in rear of an assault company and observing that it was disorganized alerted his men to pass through it. Moving his platoon to the front he directed the annihilation of the hostile personnel in three pill boxes and in numerous fire trenches. When fire from an enemy emplacement pinned down his platoon, Second Lieutenant Cire returned to the beach and obtaining a tank, guided the armored vehicle by walking before it in the face of hostile fire.
Although wounded while on this mission, he continued to lead the tank to his platoon area and by directing its fire on the Japanese emplacement neutralized the enemy strong point and enabled his unit to continue its advance. His initiative exemplary leadership and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.