John W. Thomason, III

Major, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 41633
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain John W. Thomason, III (MCSN: 0-8212), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Public Relations Officer of the FOURTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 19 February 1945.
Landing on D-Day on a beach under continuous heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, Captain Thomason exposed himself to the hostile barrages to organize the few remaining medical corpsmen and lead them in collecting and treating the wounded. Then locating stretchers he induced several of his public relations personnel to act as stretcher bearers and, still under heavy fire, established a system for evacuating casualties on small craft, thereby contributing to the saving of many lives. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Captain Thomason and the United States Naval Service.