The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private Perry V. Maze (MCSN: 956806), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad Leader of Company L, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 6 June 1945. Leading his squad through heavy Japanese machine-gun and rifle fire while suffering intense pain from head and hand wounds, Private Maze observed a hostile rifleman firing from an observation post atop a high vertical rock which was protected by an enemy machine gun. Deploying his squad in covered positions, he directed their fire upon the automatic weapon, forced the enemy to abandon the position and, exposing himself to hostile fire, worked his way forward. Despite his wounds, Private Maze climbed the steep rock and attacked the observation post, killing the Japanese rifleman. His daring aggressiveness, indomitable courage and unselfish devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.