Hartie E. Webster

Sergeant, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 50040
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Hartie E. Webster (MCSN: 334885), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad Leader of Company F, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 27 February 1945.
Demonstrating outstanding ability, Sergeant Webster led his squad in the assault through heavy hostile small arms, grenade and artillery fire and when an enemy machine gun in a pill box prevented the advance, crawled seventy-five yards to the position across open fire swept terrain in full view of the Japanese.
Upon reaching the pill box which contained a machine gun manned by four enemy soldiers, he single-handedly destroyed it and then, resuming the advance with his squad through intense hostile fire, assisted the flanking unit in taking its objective.
During this action, Sergeant Webster repeatedly exposed himself to intense small arms and mortar fire while personally directing the fire of each man in his squad. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.