The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Roland E. Hunt (MCSN: 349479), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Squad Leader in a Combat Patrol serving with the Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces at Piva Forks, Bougainville, Solomon Islands on November 21, 1943. Halted by intense hostile fire during an advance by his patrol against a heavily fortified Japanese position, Corporal Hunt skillfully and aggressively led his squad around a flank of the enemy line to an advantageous position in the rear and directing the fire of their guns into the bunker entrenchments with deadly accuracy created a diversion in the Japanese line, enabling the remainder of the patrol to continue its advance. During one phase of the bitter engagement, he personally destroyed one of the hostile emplacements and two members of its crew. Corporal Hunt’s forceful leadership, intrepid fighting spirit and heroic devotion to duty in the face of grave peril were contributing factors in the success of our forces in that area and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.