The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant Loren F. Hedderly (MCSN: 0-10035), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Leader of a 60-mm. Mortar Section attached to the Eighth Marines, SECOND Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces at Saipan Mariana Islands on 16 and 19 June 1944. When his section was subjected to concentrated intense hostile artillery fire and one of his guns received a direct hit, severely wounding members of the crew the night of 16 June, First Lieutenant Hedderly repeatedly risked his life to supervise the evacuation of casualties and thereafter maintained a constant vigil throughout the night to keep the remainder of his section in readiness for attack. In order to gain greater visibility on 19 June, he expeditiously established an observation post 150 yards forward of our lines and, throughout the hours of darkness, constantly exposed himself to the enemy’s fierce barrages in order to direct the fire of his section more accurately. Although mortally wounded during the bitter action, First Lieutenant Hedderly, by his fearless initiative, great personal valor and courageous leadership throughout had contributed materially to the success of our forces in capturing this vital Japanese stronghold and had upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.