Luther C. Crabtree

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Luther C. Crabtree (500560), , U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with a Marine rifle company on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 February to 26 March, 1945. On 13 March, when the advance of his company was held up by rifle and grenade fire from a series of caves to the front, Corporal Crabtree, utterly disregarding his own safety, ran forward of the front lines and destroyed two cave positions with demolitions. Again on 15 March, disregarding enemy machine gun fire from caves to the front, he ran through the front lines and attacked cave positions with satchel charges, destroying three cave positions and making possible the advance of his company. His daring execution of these dangerous missions and his constant courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.